Reviews Write New Review
Location
Booking Fee
Fee: $##,###Get Pricing
Virtual Fee: $##,###Get Pricing
[email protected]
Victoria Arlen
Survivor, ESPN & Ninja Warrior Host; Gold Medalist, Author & Dancing With The Stars Contestant
Victoria Arlen’s life drastically changed in 2006 at the tender age of eleven when she developed two rare conditions known as Transverse Myelitis and Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis. This was an incredibly rare scenario and Arlen quickly lost the ability to speak, eat, walk and move. She slipped into a vegetative state in which doctors had written her off as a lost cause. Arlen spent nearly four years "locked” inside her own body completely aware of what was going on just unable to move or communicate. Doctors believed there was little hope of survival and recovery was unlikely. Arlen, however was not ready to give up. In- stead of writing her obituary, she wrote a bucket list of the things she would achieve when she survived. In 2010 after almost four years she began the nearly impossible fight back to life. Learning how to speak, eat and move all over again while checking things off her bucket list.
Arlen went on to exceedingly defy the odds and not only recovered but has since become an accomplished Motivational Speaker, Television Host, Philanthropist, Writer and Swimmer. Her swimming resume includes three Silvers and a Gold medal from the London 2012 Games as well as multiple World, American and Pan American Records.
In April 2015, Arlen made the transition from professional athlete to sportscaster and joined ESPN at the age of twenty, becoming one of the youngest on air talents hired by the company. She reports and hosts across all platforms including Sportscenter, First Take, X Games, Sportsnation, Sportscenter on Snapchat, Sportscenter Global, Frozen Four, Special Olympics and more.
In the Spring of 2016 Arlen defied yet another odd and after spending a decade in a wheelchair paralyzed from the waist down was able to learn how take one step after another and eventually not only did she learn how to walk but within a year and a half in the Fall of 2017 she learned to dance as a contestant on Season 25 of Dancing with the Stars placing in the top five.
Arlen is also the Founder and Co- Chair of Arlen's Victory Foundation, a nonprofit that assists those with mobility related disabilities. Since 2017, VVF over provided half a million dollars in scholarship funds to those who need it most.
Arlen's book, "Locked In," hit stores worldwide in August of 2018 as well as her 30 for 30 titled "Locked In," that Arlen narrated and produced. Arlen continues to share her story on various speaking tours throughout the world.
In July of 2019 Arlen was announced as the new host of America Ninja Warrior Jr., Season 3 premiered September 2021 on NBC and Peacock.
Arlen has lived by this motto since the day she fought back to live:
"Face It, Embrace It, Defy It, Conquer It."
Videos
Related Speakers View all
Melissa Stockwell
Paralympic Medalist, 3-Time World Champion, Ironma...
|
|
Bethany Hamilton
Professional Surfer & Shark Attack Survivor; Inspira...
|
|
Jessica Long
16-Time U.S. Paralympic Gold Medal-Winning Swimmer, ...
|
|
Laurie Hernandez
Olympic Gold Medal Winning U.S. Gymnast & Winner of ...
|
|
Jackie Joyner-Kersee
Olympic Legend, Philanthropist, American Record-Hold...
|
|
Shannon Miller
Olympic Gold Medalist, Health Advocate & Cancer Surv...
|
|
Nancy Kerrigan
Two-Time Olympic Medalist & US National Figure Skati...
|
|
Inky Johnson
Sports Motivation Expert, Author, Mentor to Athletes...
|
|
Dominique Dawes
Three-time Olympian, Olympic Gold Medalist, Healthy ...
|
|
Lisa Leslie
WNBA Champion, Olympic Gold Medalist & Author of "Do...
|
|
Scott Hamilton
Olympic Gold Medalist Figure Skater, Three-Time Canc...
|
|
J.R. Martinez
Actor, Best-Selling Author, Motivational Speaker, Ad...
|
|
Amy Purdy
Former "Dancing with the Stars" Contestant & Paralym...
|
|
Eric Boles
President of The Game Changers Inc.; Authority on Te...
|
|
Rudy Ruettiger
Motivational Speaker, Author & Inspiration for the A...
|
|
Mike Eruzione
Captain of the 1980 US Olympic Hockey Team & Subject...
|
|
Tatyana McFadden
Paralympic Wheelchair Racer, Nordic Skier, 4-time Wo...
|
|
Allyson Felix
Track & Field Athlete, Olympic Champion & 12-Time Go...
|
|
Joe Theismann
World Champion Quarterback, Broadcaster & Entrepreneur
|
|
Jim Craig
Gold Medal Olympian, Inspiration for Disney Film "Mi...
|