Experiencing a return to the swimming pool triggered memories of her shark attack, resulting in the loss of her leg. Now, this athlete boasts two Paralympic medals.
"It was truly challenging," she told CNN's Don Riddell. "At that moment, physically, the cold water sent what felt like electric jolts running through my recently amputated leg due to the new nerve endings. Emotionally, hearing the sound of water triggered flashbacks to the attack."
However, there were "sparks of optimism," she added. "There were moments in the water that felt serene and delightful as I tried to rekindle my affection for water."
And surprisingly, just 16 months later, she was swimming on the grandest stage of all, winning two Paralympic silver medals in Paris in the women’s S10 400-meter freestyle and 100m backstroke.
"It's hard to describe, but it's all thanks to the countless individuals who have supported me this year, even in the stands during the Paris games," she said.
Truwit was a competitive swimmer for Yale University, majoring in cognitive science and economics, and was on vacation with her teammate Sophie Pilkinton when the attack occurred. They were snorkeling in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
"It was a terrifying day, a terrifying time, and a tragic moment that I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy," Truwit said. "But when I look back now, I focus on the courage that Sophie and I showed, and how grateful I am for Sophie's calmness, medical knowledge, and selflessness that saved my life."
They managed to fend off the shark and swim back to the boat where her friend applied a tourniquet to stop the bleeding. Truwit was then airlifted to hospital where doctors operated three times and finally amputated her left leg just below the knee on her 23rd birthday.
"I still have flashbacks to the attack, and in the early days, I had several nightmares," she said. "My mom would spend countless sleepless nights with me, helping me overcome them. But I learned to confront my fear, knowing that I could have a flashback, feel scared, and still get through it."
Shortly after the attack, Noelle Lambert, an American Paralympic track and field athlete who also competed in Paris, contacted Truwit and sowed the seed of competing at a Paralympic Games.
"It started as a mission to regain my love for swimming, then to get some exercise and cardio that I was sadly missing," she said. "It evolved into a question: 'What if I could make it?' I've usually had 'what ifs' that ended negatively, full of fear and anxiety. But this 'what if' was exciting and hopeful, surrounded by sadness and tears."
Her family, coach, who came out of retirement to guide her back to competitive swimming, and friends, including those who saved her life, were all there cheering as she clinched her silver medals, writing on Instagram, "My lifesavers, heroes, sisters, best friends. The most selfless, incredible, caring, strong inspirations I'll ever have."
In spite of the traumatic experience, swimming still held a sense of joy for Truwit, as she noted, "There were moments in the water that felt serene and delightful as I tried to rekindle my affection for water." Furthermore, her dedication to the sport paid off significantly, leading her to win two Paralympic silver medals in swimming events.
