mallerie wickerman is a par Olympic swimmer who was born in Lawrence Kansas mallerie became paralyzed after receiving an epidural injection to treat post shingles back pain in 2008 and after about 4 months after her paralysis she was back in the pool with her eyes set on competing in the paralympic games and she's now representing Team USA in her third par Olympic Games she won two gold medals and a silver in Tokyo in 2020 a gold and bronze in London in 2012 and just won a gold medal in Paris in the 200 met individual medal I think it's important to realize that no matter how small it may feel we all have the ability to impact the world we all have ability to make a difference I'm going to tell all of you what my dad told me when I was little you're the best you can make a difference and you can change the world [Music]