Ali Truwit

At just 25 years old, Yale-graduate and former collegiate swimmer Ali Truwit has embarked on a story of extraordinary resilience: after surviving a brutal shark attack and losing her left foot, she’s now training to take on the 2025 TCS New York City Marathon on a prosthetic running blade. (CT Insider)

A devastating moment

In May 2023, shortly after graduating from Yale University, Ali’s life changed drastically.

She and her friend were snorkeling off the coast of Turks and Caicos Islands when a shark attacked.

The predator bit her left foot and lower leg, severing her foot in the process. (Moneycontrol)

On the boat after being pulled to safety, Ali — bleeding and in shock — remarked, “At least I got my marathon in before this.”

The first-responder beside her replied, “You’ll run another one.” That moment planted a seed of comeback in her mind. (Runner’s World)

She was air-lifted to Miami for emergency surgery, then transferred to New York, where she underwent a below-knee amputation on her 23rd birthday. (Moneycontrol)

From trauma to triumph

The road back was both physical and deeply emotional.

Ali has described the initial period at home as filled with “a depth of sadness and pain I had never known before.” (Norwalk Hour) Yet, she refused to let that define her.

She focused on — as she put it — “How am I going to make meaning of this?” (Runner’s World)

Within just around 12 months, she went from re-learning mobility to qualifying for the 2024 2024 Summer Paralympics in Paris.

There, representing Team USA, she won two silver medals in her swimming classification (S10 400-metre freestyle and 100-metre backstroke). (teamusa.com)

The turnaround is remarkable. She went from fearing she might never be an athlete again, to being a decorated Paralympian.

The marathon goal

For Ali, running has always held a special place — not just as competition, but as therapy and freedom.

Before the attack she’d even completed a full marathon (the Copenhagen Marathon) just 10 days before the snorkelling trip that changed everything. (Connecticut Post)

Now, she’s training to run the New York City Marathon on her prosthetic blade. It’s more than a race: for Ali, it’s full-circle.

It’s where she had her amputation, and now where she plans to return as a runner. (¡HOLA!)

She’s on a team of 12, including her mom and the friend who helped save her life, and raising funds through her nonprofit Stronger Than You Think (aiming for US $100,000) to help young women and girls with limb loss access prosthetic blades. (People.com)

The practical hurdles

Running 26.2 miles on a running blade isn’t merely symbolic: it comes with real technical challenges. Some of the details she shared:

• Terrain: Uneven roads and slight slopes throw off her hips because the blade has no ankle joint.

• She says she must keep “my eyes glued to the ground” to notice holes or rocks. (Runner’s World)

• Prosthetic liner care: Sweat builds up between her leg and the blade liner, forcing her to stop to dry it.

• These unscheduled breaks slow her down. (Runner’s World)

• Mindset: She frames the journey as “two opposite things can be true at the same time” — yes the journey is hard, but yes there’s joy, strength, and gratitude. (teamusa.com)

Why this matters

Ali’s story resonates on multiple levels:

• Representation & hope: She shows that losing a limb by trauma doesn’t necessarily end athleticism or purpose.

• Beyond the personal: Through her foundation, she’s raising awareness and practical support for others with limb loss.

• Redefining “possible”: Many assumed a shark-victim amputee wouldn’t run a marathon again. She’s flipping that narrative.

• Mental health & identity: Her rehabilitation isn’t just physical; it’s about reclaiming identity, body image, joy, and movement.

Looking ahead

As the marathon approaches (Sunday Nov 2, 2025) (CT Insider),

Ali’s focus isn’t on a podium or time. She says, “If someone leaves and their perception of what people with disabilities are capable of changes ­— that is success for me.” (NBC New York)

Her future extends beyond this race. She still aims to swim at future Paralympics (targeting the 2028 2028 Summer Paralympics) and continue building her foundation’s impact. (CT Insider)

Final thoughts

Ali Truwit’s journey reminds us that trauma can become a pivot rather than a stop-sign. Two years ago she faced a life-threatening event.

Now she stands on the cusp of running 26.2 miles again — this time, with a blade, on one leg, but with a heart and purpose stronger than ever.

Her story isn’t just about surviving, it’s about rising, and about using that rise to lift others.