After shark attack and amputation, she runs a marathon with her rescuer and turns tragedy into triumph

The extraordinary courage of amputee athlete Ali Truwit was clear from the moment her life changed forever.

Two years ago, during a post-graduation trip to the turquoise waters of Turks and Caicos, Ali was snorkeling with friends when a shark suddenly attacked her.

As she was lifted onto a rescue boat, bleeding heavily, her calm and strength shone through—just ten days after completing a full marathon in Copenhagen.

Even in that terrifying moment, she showed remarkable composure and humor.

With a tourniquet wrapped around what remained of her left leg—a quick and life-saving move by her best friend, Sophie Pilkinton—she looked at one of the rescuers. She said, “At least I got my marathon in before this.”

That moment of lightness amid chaos captured her unbreakable resilience. A paramedic at the scene reassured her that this would not be her last race.

And he was right.

Amputee athlete finds her strength again

Now 25, Ali has turned her pain into purpose.

The amputee athlete underwent a below-knee amputation after the May 2023 shark attack. Still, she refused to let it define her.

In just a short time, she returned to the water as a Paralympic swimmer, winning two silver medals for Team USA.

Her journey didn’t stop there. On November 2, she took on the New York City Marathon, running every step on a custom prosthetic blade.

The 26.2-mile race is her way of reclaiming her life and proving that even after tragedy, strength can be rebuilt.

“A lot of these past few years has been working to reclaim life loves that I used to have,” Ali tells PEOPLE. “Some of the stuff I’ve lost in this attack I’m never getting back. But if there’s things that I can fight for, I’m going to fight for them tooth and nail.”

Her words reveal the heart of her resilience—a mindset focused on what she can still achieve, rather than what was taken from her.

Running for purpose and possibility

Ali isn’t running the marathon just for herself. She’s doing it for a greater cause through her nonprofit, Stronger Than You Think.

The organization raises awareness about water safety and helps provide prosthetic limbs to girls and women who have lost a limb.

She’s part of the New York Road Runners’ official marathon team and hopes to raise $100,000 by race day.

Every stride on the challenging course, which winds through all five boroughs and across several bridges, will test her endurance and spirit.

Ali shared that she draws strength from the people who surround her. “I have so much support, and it really is what picks me up on those days that I need it and what strengthens me on the days where I’m already feeling good,” she said.

Her team includes her parents, Jody and Mitch, and her best friend, Sophie Pilkinton—the same person who saved her life.

Together, they represent the community of love and support that helped Ali rebuild her confidence and faith in herself.

The unbreakable bond that saved her life

Sophie’s quick thinking on that tragic day in Turks and Caicos made all the difference.

She acted fast, wrapping a tourniquet around Ali’s injured leg, stopping the bleeding and keeping her alive until help arrived.

Ali has since said that no words can truly express how much that act meant to her.

She has spent the last two years living with deep gratitude for the friendship that gave her a second chance.

Every milestone—every swim, every race, every victory—feels even more meaningful knowing it was made possible by the courage of her best friend.

Their bond reflects the power of human connection and shared resilience, demonstrating how love and loyalty can transform tragedy into something meaningful.

Amputee athlete finds her “why” in every mile

As the amputee athlete prepared for the grueling New York City Marathon, she knew the challenge will test both body and mind.

However, Ali has found a way to maintain her motivation.

“I am planning to have photos of different girls that I can pull up [on my phone] when it’s getting tough so I am constantly reminded of that strong why,” she shared. “I think it’ll be nice to be able to look at that and know, ‘That’s who I’m doing this for.’”

Those girls represent the reason behind her nonprofit’s mission—helping others who face limb loss find hope, confidence, and opportunity again.

Every mile she runs is more than a step toward the finish line. It’s a message to others facing hardship: life after loss can still be full of purpose.

A journey of resilience and redemption

Today, Ali stands as a shining example of what it means to overcome fear and reclaim joy.

The amputee athlete, who once feared she would never walk again, is now training to conquer one of the world’s toughest races.

Her story is not just about survival—it’s about rediscovery. It’s about finding new ways to love life, to honor her best friend’s bravery, and to use her platform to help others do the same.

Through unwavering resilience, compassion, and courage, Ali reminds the world that even the darkest moments can lead to something beautiful.

And as she crosses the finish line of the New York City Marathon, she won’t just be running for herself—she’ll be running for every person who needs to believe that hope always has a second wind.

Watch the inspiring ABC7NY feature on amputee athlete Ali Truwit and see how her strength and resilience turned tragedy into triumph.