Six-time Olympic gold medalist swimmer Amy Van Dyken, after witnessing the shooting of Charlie Kirk, says her life has been forever changed.
Kirk, at just 31 years of age, was fatally shot in the neck while speaking at a Utah Valley University event in September. His dedication to conservative principles and his fearless voice in the face of adversity inspired a generation.
Even in death, it seems, he’s inspiring people like Van Dyken.
“I wanted to tell you something,” Van Dyken, one of the most decorated American swimmers of all time, wrote on social media. “September 10th, 2025, completely changed my life.”
“I watched a man who had ideas and liked to debate others on their ideas be assassinated in front of us.”
Charlie Kirk changed her life forever
Amy Van Dyken described Charlie Kirk’s murder as a profound shock. To see a man killed for his ideas despite his preference for debating viewpoints is rather alarming. The tragedy left a permanent mark on her life, ending her “lukewarm” Christian faith and prompting a profound spiritual renewal.
“From that moment on, I stopped being a lukewarm Christian,” she wrote. “I started going to church every single Sunday. I started reading my Bible every single day. I now listen to worship music instead of secular music.”
“It has really changed my life,” Van Dyken added. “I’m less anxious. I’m less angry.”
“I wanted to let you know what has been going on in my life since I’ve been so quiet. That day completely changed my life forever.”
READ MORE: Sen. Chuck Schumer Slammed for Bills Comment After Sydney Attack
Faith in tragedy
Van Dyken is a retired American swimmer who overcame severe childhood asthma to become one of the most decorated Olympians, winning six gold medals across the 1996 Atlanta and 2000 Sydney Games.
In 1996, she made history as the first American woman to win four gold medals in a single Olympics (50m freestyle, 100m butterfly, and two relays). She added two more relay golds in 2000 despite shoulder injuries, retiring afterward with an undefeated Olympic record in gold.
On June 6, 2014, Van Dyken suffered a severe ATV accident near her Arizona home when the vehicle hit a curb, launching her over a drop-off and severing her spinal cord. The near-fatal crash left her paralyzed from the waist down.
Despite the life-changing injury, she has remained active, pursuing broadcasting, motivational speaking, and adaptive sports.
Triumph over tragedy, just as Charlie and his widow, Erika Kirk, are bringing.
Van Dyken expressed sympathy to Kirk’s family, thanked them for his influence, and called for greater kindness in society. Not exactly a controversial take by any measure.