Growing up, sports were not just something that Alana Nichols did. They were her identity. After suffering a traumatic spinal cord injury while snowboarding at the age of 17, she was paralyzed from the waist down. Thinking her athletic career was over, she experienced a wheelchair basketball game her freshman year at the University of New Mexico, where the physical and competitive gameplay reignited her athletic endeavors and her passion for sports and adventure. Alana went on to compete in several Paralympic games and is the first woman Paralympian to win gold medals at both Summer and Winter games. She has competed in wheelchair basketball, Paralympic alpine monoskiing, and at her final Paralympic games in Rio, paracanoeing. Join us for an intimate conversation as Alana shares her journey of resilience, identity, and passion for challenging herself and others.
Speaker
- Alana Nichols Three-Time Paralympic Gold Medalist
Moderator
- Zaria Johnson Reporter/Producer, Ideastream Public Media