Amy Van Dyken-Rouen takes first steps after severing spine

PHOENIX — Olympic swimmer Amy Van Dyken-Rouen took her first steps Thursday just months after severing her spine in an ATV accident in eastern Arizona.

Though she’s paralyzed from the waist down, Van Dyken-Rouen was able to take steps with the aid of a walker and an assistance machine.

Last week, Van Dyken-Rouen left a Denver-area hospital after nearly two months of care. She planned to return to Arizona.

The six-time gold-medal winner has been busy with therapy, which has included swimming and weight training, and a recreational sailing trip, and keeping her social-media accounts updated.

Van Dyken-Rouen has been incredibly upbeat during her recovery, telling Bickley and Marotta on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM last month the injury was basically nothing more than a speed bump.

“I was wondering more of what happened more than anything … the way I look at it is, this is a new part of my life, and I’m here at a great hospital in Colorado just walking it out, learning how to live it,” she said.