Van Dyken-Rouen severed her spine when the vehicle rolled on top of her during the accident on June 6 near her home in Show Low, Arizona, which she shares with husband and former National Football League player Tom Rouen.

The 41-year-old was airlifted to the Scottsdale Osborn Medical Center where she underwent emergency surgery to repair the spine and stabilise her condition.

Van Dyken-Rouen has since been flown to the Craig Hospital in Englewood, Colorado, where she is beginning the long road to recovery.

But she has vowed to use the same determination that saw her become the first United States woman to claim four gold medals at a single Olympic Games in Atlanta in 1996 before claiming two more at Sydney 2000, in her efforts to walk again.

Van Dyken-Rouen says she will use the same determination and spirit that saw her win six Olympic gold medals to help her to walk again ©Getty Images



"I'm not afraid of it - I welcome it," she told NBC's Today programme.

"This is a new challenge, and I'm taking it head-on.

"This is more than just for a gold medal, this is for my life; our life.

"And so, I'm here and I'm working as hard as I can for that.

"It's a setback, that's all it is.

"And then we're going to rock and roll."

Van Dyken-Rouen, who was not wearing a helmet, was knocked unconscious during the accident which saw her lose control of the four-wheeled vehicle before vaulting over a kerb and crashing.

"She took off and I thought, 'That sounds like a lot of accelerator'," said husband and former Denver Bronco's star Rouen, recalling the accident.

"She wasn't moving.

"She wasn't breathing."

Van Dyken-Rouen has been active on social media keeping fans up-to-date with her recovery ©Instagram



Since the accident, the three-time world champion has taken to social media to share details of her recovery with fans and well-wishers, posting photos and messages on Twitter and Instagram.

A day after surgery, Van Dyken-Rouen posted photos on Instagram of her family in the hospital, room while the next day she posted a selfie in her hospital bed and later put up a shot of her sitting up for the first time.

She has continued to use social media to keep fans updated and revealed that the online interaction has helped her to stay positive as she begins her recovery.

"It's blowing me away, it truly is," said Van Dyken-Rouen.

"I've gotten a lot of messages sending me thoughts, prayers, positive vibes.

"I feel them.

"It's helping me and I just want to say thank you to everyone.

"My ultimate goal is to walk out of here in August."

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