Amy Van Dyken-Rouen knows a thing or two about staying positive—no matter what the situation.
The six-time Olympic gold medalist swimmer was paralyzed in an ATV accident June 6, but as she told Matt Lauer exclusively on Today Friday, she's "not afraid" of the road ahead.
She attends physical therapy at Craig Hospital in Englewood, Colo., working on her rehabilitation every day from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. "This is a new challenge, and I'm taking it head-on," said Amy, 41. "This is more than just for a gold medal, this is for my life; our life. And so, I'm here and I'm working as hard as I can for that."
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She told Matt that she's experienced some sensation below her bellow button post-surgery, giving her hope of regaining some feeling in her legs.
"My ultimate goal," she said, "is in August, to walk out of here."
Amy's family and friends—including husband Tom Rouen—are amazed at how upbeat she's been throughout this entire ordeal. "It's a setback; that's all it is," she said. "And then we're gonna rock and roll."
That is the attitude of a champion.
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