AUSTIN, Texas — Laurie Allen has been competing in triathlons for almost 20 years. Her desire to test her physical limits pushed her then to Ironman competitions, the ultimate test of physical endurance.
“I remember thinking nobody who ever knew me in high school would have ever thought that’s something I could accomplish,” said Allen. “It wasn’t just what I did. It was who I was.”
In February of 2015, a woman in peak condition, had everything change in an instant. She was at a friend’s house having dinner with several people. Later in the evening, they decided to get in the hot tub outside. When Allen got up on the edge of the hot tub, on an icy night, she slipped and fell over backwards about 10 feet.
“I don’t remember falling. I do remember briefly telling my friends don’t move me,” says Allen. “I can’t feel my legs.”
Allen was taken to the hospital and was told she had broken her neck and was quadriplegic. The doctor said she would probably never move her arms and legs again.
“I knew that I couldn’t change what had happened but I was going to make the best of it that I possibly could.”
Allen had a new purpose and determination in life. She was going to work as hard as she could to regain as much movement in her body as possible.
“From the beginning I was out to prove them wrong,” said Allen. “I will work harder than anybody here to get through rehab. I wanted to win rehab.”
Her drive to overcome the odds is something Andrea Fisher had seen before. Fisher helped coach Allen when she was competing in Ironman.
“When you’re in that situation, you could focus on it and say, well, look at all the things she can’t do,” said Fisher. “Laurie really sits there and says, look at all the things I can do.”
The next mission for Allen, was to come back and compete in a triathlon. Through intense rehab she was able to do just that less than thre years after her accident.
“I couldn’t stop smiling. I was so happy to be there and I was so thrilled I had made it back,” said Allen. It’s almost indescribable how amazing it was to be back at a triathlon and participating in it.”
A moment of fulfillment and accomplishment and the joy of competing keeps pushing her today.
“This kind of injury can take away so much of your life and so many things from you,” says Allen. “I think it’s really important to find things that you can do with your injury. I think sports are a great way to combat, you know, depression and loneliness and boredom.”