Mallory Weggemann

Mallory Weggemann has been a competitive swimmer since the age of seven. On January 21, 2008, she went to the hospital to receive the final epidural injection to help treat her back pain caused by postherpetic neuralgia. The epidural injections left Mallory a paraplegic with complete loss of movement from her abdomen down.

Just three months after her injury at the age of 18, Weggemann chose to return to the pool. She found one thing unchanged, her love for swimming. Now, she’s a Paralympic Gold Medalist.

Pass it on!

VIDEO TRANSCRIPT

Mallory: Swimming brought be back to life from a very very dark place.

It was a very difficult moment to realize I wasn't going to walk home that night.

I think it was after that first week that I started fighting.

As crazy as it may sound, I am thankful for that day. I learned a lot about how to love myself again. And I think that's what it's about—it's about not only the moments, but how we react to them and where we choose to go from that point.

To me, resiliency is that will to never give up. To never give in. And to always keep fighting the fight.

Resiliency
Pass It On®
Pass It On®

YOUR COMMENT

Note: All comments are reviewed before posting.

I personally am a swimmer. I was really touched by what I saw. I love that people who have some disabilities have found heir true passion for something, that they will never let of.

Sophie Cain from Larkspur Middle School, October 19, 2021

never give up !

Angelo Larroque from Texas, April 28, 2021

I think it was great for her to just open up. Even though she had difficulties she still manged to help others.

Abdullah Malik, April 26, 2021

I love this story

kiiara from toledo ohio, October 20, 2020

I think that this is so heartwarming I wish i was as confident in my self like she is to her self. After this i want to try to be confident.

Jade from ?????????????????????????, September 23, 2020

wow, this is so heartwarming :)

bean beanebeanbeaneenebaene from burger bean burgr bean, April 14, 2020

Never give up. Never give in. Love it

Nicole from Alabama , June 7, 2019

Overcoming the odds I'm inspired by her story goodluck.

Sadie from Georgia, April 28, 2019

I was crying of happy

Anonymous, January 28, 2019

Wow thats so nice of them to make her a part of the team even though she was paralyzed

Anonymous, August 28, 2018

never give up in your dreams magical very magical

abigail, June 1, 2018

Amazing video... thanks for making such cool vidos for us to see at school

Andrew from Clinton NE, March 16, 2018

Be sure to watch our other Pass It On® videos.

Holding The Light

TEACHING BY EXAMPLE

Hope

HOPE

Apple Stand

CARING

Hockey

LOVE

Most People Are Good

GOODNESS

Change the World

MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Haircut

BEING THERE

Loyalty

LOYALTY

College

GRATITUDE

Baseball

FRIENDSHIP

Peer Pressure

CHARACTER

I Believe

BELIEVE

The Greatest

OPTIMISM

Never Too Late

LIVE LIFE

Piñata

SHARING

Joshua's Heart

LOVE

Kindness

KINDNESS

My Wish

PARENTING

Hall of Fame

ACHIEVEMENT

Basketball

SPORTSMANSHIP

Timeout

CIVILITY

Power of the Dream

LIVE YOUR DREAMS

A Better Life

A BETTER LIFE

Wet Cement

PATIENCE

Jen Bricker

STRENGTH

Veteran

THANK YOU

Spirit of America

DETERMINATION

Love

LOVE

Ballet

CONFIDENCE

Reach

INTEGRITY

Track Coach

BELIEVE

Be A Light

BE A LIGHT

Umbrella

CARING

Remember When

APPRECIATION

Better Together

BETTER TOGETHER

Dishes

LISTENING

Old Friends

FRIENDSHIP

Locker

CHARACTER

Soccer

OPPORTUNITY

Believe

BELIEVE

Annie's Song

OUR BEAUTIFUL WORLD

Just Say Hi

REACHING OUT

We Shall Be Free

DO YOUR PART

Home

FAMILY

Neighbors

PATIENCE

Truck Stop

RIGHT CHOICES

Imagine

IMAGINE

I Will Always Love You

LOVE

Top Shelf

HELPING OTHERS

Homer

LOYALTY

Hallway

FORGIVENESS

Live Life

LIVE LIFE

Faith In You

DEVOTION

Oliver With A Twist

PLEASE AND THANK YOU

Guitar Hero

LIVE YOUR DREAMS

Special Athlete

SPORTSMANSHIP

Good Stuff

COMMITMENT

You Raise Me Up

INSPIRATION

Packages

COURTESY

Three Pointer

YOU GOT THIS

My Life in Sports

APPRECIATION

Purse

HONESTY

Cafeteria

REACHING OUT

Nate Staniforth, Magician

WONDER

Sarah Greichen

INCLUSION

Get Along

GET ALONG

Let Em In

CARING

America

CARING

Classroom

HONESTY

Crosswalk

GOOD MANNERS

Life's A Dance

LEARN AS YOU GO

Gratitude

GRATITUDE

Grace VanderWaal

CONFIDENCE

Road Rage

GOOD EXAMPLES

Spread the Love

LOVE

The Wall

HARD WORK

Biker

GRATITUDE

Open Door

KINDNESS

Dear Me

HOPE

Generosity

GENEROSITY

You Can Let Go

LOVE

Homecoming Queen

TRUE BEAUTY

I Hope You Dance

LIVE LIFE

Train

LOVE

Everyday Heroes

MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Humble and Kind

KINDNESS

Already There

BEING THERE

Everything I Do

CARING