In this episode of the Influential Women Podcast, Jodie O'Brien sits down with six-time Olympic Gold Medalist, Emmy Award-winning NBC Olympic analyst, and resilience speaker Amy Van Dyken.

Amy made history at the 1996 Olympic Games as the first American woman to win four gold medals in a single Olympics. But years later, after a devastating ATV accident severed her spinal cord and left her paralyzed from the waist down, she faced a challenge unlike anything she had ever experienced.

Rather than allowing tragedy to define her, Amy rebuilt her life with extraordinary resilience, discovering that some of life's hardest moments can become the catalyst for greater compassion, purpose, and perspective.

In this conversation, Amy shares:

• How surviving a spinal cord injury transformed her outlook on life
• Why her accident ultimately made her more compassionate
• How elite athletes develop the mindset to persevere through adversity
• Why success means something very different today than it did during her Olympic career
• The importance of gratitude, even during life's most difficult seasons
• How asking for help became one of her greatest strengths
• Why resilience is something anyone can develop
• How shifting your perspective can change your entire life
• What it truly means to develop the "will to win"
• Why your greatest setback doesn't have to define your future

This is an honest and deeply inspiring conversation about resilience, identity, perseverance, and discovering strength through life's unexpected challenges. Amy reminds us that while we can't always control what happens to us, we can choose how we respond—and sometimes our greatest victories happen long after the medals are won.

If you've ever faced adversity, questioned your strength, or wondered how to move forward after life changes everything, this episode will leave you feeling inspired, empowered, and hopeful.