Lauren

Kintzing

Boulder, Colorado

Physical Disability: Upper and Lower Body Impairment   

Lauren Kintzing began swimming at the age of three, and was competitively Swimming by the age of nine. Once her accident occurred, doctors told her that she would never be able to swim competitively again, but she was out to prove them wrong. During her rehabilitation, Swimming is what kept her going and kept her spirits high. 

She moved to the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs with hopes to compete at the 2012 Paralympic Games in London. She said, “I am really excited to be [at the Olympic Training Center]. So far I have already seen a lot of changes in my stroke and I am trying to get better in my freestyle and backstroke.”

Kintzing, up until the age of 14, was a four-sport athlete, as well as an accomplished dancer; however, one day out on the lake changed her life forever. The water was rough, and the waves were over three feet high.  Noticing that the boat was filling up with water, Kintzing jumped out, but unfortunately the driver of the boat did not see her and revved the engine, catching her underneath. As a result of the accident, part of her foot had to be amputated and she required several reconstructive surgeries on her legs.