Original version

BBC World Service Online

Migrated podcast image for: Outlook

Outlook

Factual: Life Stories

True stories of ordinary people and the extraordinary events that have shaped their lives.

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa Schedule

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa

BBC World Service West and Central Africa Schedule

BBC World Service West and Central Africa

BBC World Service Australasia

BBC World Service schedule for American satellite radio and the Caribbean

BBC World Service Americas and the Caribbean

BBC World Service

BBC World Service South Asia

BBC World Service News Internet

BBC World Service Europe and the Middle East

BBC World Service East Asia

Outlook: The Paralympian who was trapped inside her body

Magazines & Reviews

Victoria Arlen

24/07/2021 GMT

The Paralympian who was trapped inside her body

BBC World Service - Outlook, The Paralympian who was trapped inside her body

How Victoria Arlen swam for gold after years of being unable to speak or move

After years in a coma, Victoria Arlen woke up in hospital locked into her body unable to speak or move. But just two years later she swam for gold at the 2012 Paralympic Games.

When Victoria Arlen was a child, she had dreams of being an athlete. But at the age of 11 she became unwell and lost consciousness, only to wake up years later in a hospital bed locked into her body, unable to communicate or move. For months she was alert, but nobody knew it and all she had were her thoughts. Slowly she recovered and took up para-swimming, going on to break a world record at the London 2012 Paralympic Games. This story was first broadcast on the 30th of September 2018.
 
Presenter: Harry Graham
Producer: Katy Davis
 
Picture: Victoria Arlen    
Credit: Harry Engles / Getty Images
 
Get in touch: outlook@bbc.com

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Outlook

The Paralympian who was trapped inside her body

Genres

Formats

Brand

BBC World Service Online

About BBC World Service