Welcome to the Party – Episode Summary
From Shark Attack to Paralympian to Marathoner: The Unbreakable Ali Truwit
Date: November 6, 2025
Hosts: Abby Wambach, Julie Foudy, Billie Jean King
Guest: Ali Truwit
Episode Overview
This episode features the incredible journey of Ali Truwit—a shark attack survivor, Yale graduate, Paralympic swimmer, marathon finisher, and passionate advocate. Abby Wambach, Julie Foudy, and Billie Jean King guide a conversation exploring Ali’s physical and mental recovery after a devastating injury, her meteoric rise to the Paralympics, the founding of her nonprofit Stronger Than You Think, and her triumphant marathon run less than three years post-injury. Throughout, Ali shares her story with candor, humor, and deep insight into resilience, healing, and the power of community.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
1. Ali's Story: Overview and Immediate Response
- [07:22] Julie Foudy introduces Ali’s journey—from a shark attack days after Yale graduation, to winning Paralympic medals, setting American swimming records, being featured in Sports Illustrated, and running the NYC Marathon with her mom and friend Sophie (who saved her life).
- Ali recounts the attack ([16:15]):
“We were snorkeling in a very common shallow tourist area, and a shark appeared seemingly out of nowhere... next thing I knew, it had bitten off my foot and part of my leg, and I was bleeding out... we made the split second decision to swim for our lives back to the boat, which was roughly 75 yards away.”
—Ali Truwit - Sophie’s heroism: She applied a tourniquet to Ali's leg on the boat, saving her life.
2. Returning to Sport, Redefining Recovery
- First thoughts post-injury:
“Even on the boat ride back from the Shark Attack, I looked up at the first responder and was like, well, at least I got my marathon in before this. And he... looked back at me and was like, ‘you're gonna run another one?’”
—Ali Truwit ([06:06]) - Running again:
- 10 days before the attack, she ran a marathon with her mom.
- Six months post-attack, she ran a Turkey Trot with an everyday prosthetic: "It was, like, painful and hard and upsetting and frustrating... For a year, I gave up running entirely."
- After earning her running blade post-Paralympics, the idea of running the marathon returned:
"Maybe the first responder was right. Maybe I could get back to running and do something like this."
—Ali Truwit ([12:51])
3. The Power of Community and Support
- Many individuals played life-saving roles:
- Sophie, who saved Ali’s life in Turks and Caicos.
- Hannah, a friend and med student, present at the Miami trauma center.
- Family and friends who ran the NYC Marathon alongside her.
- Ali’s perspective:
"My journey is a testament to the power of community and support to pull someone through... I knew early on I cannot wait until I can pay this forward."
—Ali Truwit ([18:53])
4. Stronger Than You Think Foundation and Advocacy
- Mission: Fundraising to provide young women and girls with prosthetic running blades, typically not covered by insurance.
- Achievements:
- $220,000 raised ([10:30]).
“Most insurances don't cover running blades, so we raised $220,000 for more young women and girls to get access to prosthetic running blades so that they can experience that freedom and joy of running, too.”
—Ali Truwit ([10:41])- Blades can cost $10,000–$35,000 or more, with some going as high as $100,000 ([12:17]).
“It’s called ‘Stronger Than You Think’... it was great to be able to fundraise for that so that we can give those prosthetics.”
—Ali Truwit ([10:58]) - Motivation: Her phone background features women and girls helped so far, for inspiration during the marathon ([11:19]).
5. From Trauma to Purpose: Mental Health and Vulnerability
- Radical acceptance and choosing meaning:
“We can't control what happens to us, but we can control how we respond and react and make meaning... I had to get to that place of a little radical acceptance... it's happened. And now I'm going to do my best to make meaning of it.”
—Ali Truwit ([18:53]) - Mental health, grief, and transparency:
Ali speaks openly about setbacks and trauma:“If you see the shining moment, if you see me making Team USA, if you see me on the top of the podium, I want you to know that's possible for you, too. ...I had that too, and also ended up in this place. I didn't want it to be just the ending. I wanted to show, really, the authentic full journey.”
—Ali Truwit ([29:00]) - Support systems:
- Ali credits 50 friends and family who traveled to Paris as helping her through hard times in the Paralympics ([26:40]).
- Working with sports psychologists, openness with loved ones.
6. Paralympic Journey & Joy in Sport
- Path to Paris:
- Less than a year from injury to competing and medaling at the Paralympics.
- Facing trauma triggers—the underwater camera at the Paralympics resembled a shark, prompting an emotional response ([24:30]).
- Healing through athletic goals:
"The power of athletics to, like, heal us and show us what we're capable of is so strong... Here's what I still have possible for me in this new body as an amputee, I can still compete."
—Ali Truwit ([21:25])
7. Resilience, Gratitude, and "Why Me": Shifting Perspective
- On asking 'Why me?':
“If you ask, why me? Make sure you're asking it in both directions... Why did I get to survive? Why do I have friends and family who pulled me through?... Every time I ask one why me? Let me counter it with the other. And it's just a complete shift.”
—Ali Truwit ([31:05]) - Abby on reframing perspective:
"All you need to do is change the emphasis on a different word, and it changes the meaning. Like, why did this happen to me? Why did this happen to me? Why did this happen to me? Why did this happen to me? And so it just is a total different question if you have a different emphasis on a different word."
—Abby Wambach ([32:27])
8. Marathon Milestones and Family Bonds
- Running with her mother, Sophie, and friends:
The NYC Marathon became a full-circle moment—Ali, her mother, her life-saving friend, and her support network all running together ([12:51], [15:37]). - Mother-daughter pride and humor:
"We both cried. Just an incredibly full circle moment... there's no manual on how to get your child through a shark attack. I don't know. I can't imagine how hard it was to get that kind of call as a parent in a different country... to have gone through this together and then just finish with another marathon two years later... was so, so special."
—Ali Truwit ([33:23]) - Sibling rivalry:
[34:56] Ali jokes about her dad and mom’s marathon competition and brothers cheering but not running:"They were like, that's not my truth, but we support you."
9. Looking Forward
- Ali's next chapter:
- Took time off competition to train for the marathon; now focusing on returning to swimming and aiming for LA 2028 ([35:32]).
“I'm going to train and compete with eyes towards making that team in '28.”
—Ali Truwit ([36:01])
10. Hosts’ Reflections and Closing Thoughts
- Hosts are deeply inspired:
"Ali Truitt, everybody. Ali Truitt. She's just badass."
—Abby Wambach ([00:00]) "Young woman, amazing... to see her emotional and mental strength has just been the best."
—Billie Jean King ([37:03]) "She blew my mind."
—Julie Foudy ([37:07]) - Acknowledgement of struggle:
"She showed the hard... there were many practices where she would be dumping tears out of her goggles."
—Julie Foudy ([37:49])
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote/Highlight | |------------|--------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 06:06 | Ali Truwit | "Even on the boat ride back from the Shark Attack... well, at least I got my marathon in before this." | | 10:41 | Ali Truwit | "Most insurances don't cover running blades, so we raised $220,000..." | | 12:51 | Ali Truwit | "10 days before I lost my foot in the Shark Attack, I ran the Copenhagen Marathon with my mom..." | | 18:53 | Ali Truwit | "We can't control what happens to us, but we can control how we respond and react and make meaning." | | 21:25 | Ali Truwit | "I'm not going to, to the best of my ability, live it ruled by fear." | | 24:30 | Ali Truwit | "I got to the Paralympics and... there was this, as you said, large black underwater camera... it was in shallow blue water, crystal clear... it was another moment where I really leaned on the support around me." | | 29:00 | Ali Truwit | "If you see the shining moment ... I want you to know that's possible for you, too. ...If you find yourself in a low... that's there also." | | 31:05 | Ali Truwit | "If you ask, why me? Make sure you're asking it in both directions..." | | 33:23 | Ali Truwit | "Just an incredibly full circle moment... there's no manual on how to get your child through a shark attack." | | 37:07 | Julie Foudy | "She blew my mind." | | 37:31 | Billie Jean King | "She's such a great badass." | | 37:49 | Julie Foudy | "She showed the hard... many practices where she would be dumping tears out of her goggles." |
Episode Timeline and Timestamps
- [07:22] Julie introduces Ali’s backstory and journey
- [09:48] Ali shares post-marathon feelings and fundraising milestone
- [12:51] Ali details the full-circle motivation behind running the NYC Marathon
- [15:37] Story of the shark attack and immediate aftermath
- [18:53] Ali discusses radical acceptance and building her foundation
- [21:25] On mental shifts from trauma to purpose, embracing a fearless mindset
- [24:30] Overcoming trauma triggers at the Paralympics
- [29:00] Balancing visibility and vulnerability, sharing the authentic journey
- [31:05] Shifting from “Why me?” to gratitude and meaning
- [33:23] Emotional impact of running the marathon with her mom
- [35:32] Balancing marathon and swimming training; looking towards LA 2028
- [37:03+] Hosts reflect on Ali’s strength and impact
Summary Conclusion
Ali Truwit’s story is one of extraordinary resilience, humor, and hope—transforming personal trauma into collective empowerment. Through athletics, advocacy, and radical vulnerability, Ali not only recovered but soared, illuminating the importance of community and mindset for both healing and high achievement. This episode is rich with practical wisdom for anyone facing adversity, plus heartfelt celebrations of family, friendship, and women’s sports.
For more on Ali Truwit or to contribute:
Visit strongerthanyouthink.org
Host closing thoughts:
"Turning pain into purpose, which is so remarkable."
—Julie Foudy