Dyken-Rouen, one of the most decorated American swimmers of all time, becoming the first woman to win four gold medals at a single OIympics in Atlanta 1996. was involved in an all-terrain vehicle accident in June that severed her spinal cord.

She was conscious when rescued and airlifted to a hospital where she had emergency surgery to stabilise her spinal cord and vertebral column.

The accident has left her paralysed from the waist down but, following two months of rehabilitation, the 41-year-old Van Dyken left Craig Hospital in Englewood, Colorado.

She has recently taken her first steps and has vowed to walk again. 

Before the accident, Van Dyken-Rouen, who had added two more Olympics medals at Sydney 2000, was pursuing a career in broadcasting.

Amy Van Dyken-Rouen was lparalysed by a car accident in June but is fighting back and will deliver the keynote speech at the United States Olympic and Paralympic Assembly ©Twitter

The annual meeting of the US Olympic and Paralympic family, initiated in 2005, and due to be held on September 25 and 26 this year at the Hilton Hotel in Chicago, is expected to attract more than 400 participants.

They will represent Olympic, Paralympic and Pan American National Governing Bodies, US Olympians and Paralympians, multi-sport organisations, the Athletes' Advisory Council, the Paralympic Advisory Committee and United States Olympic Committee (USOC) Board members and staff.

Besides Van Dyken-Rouen delivering the main speech, the two-day event - themed "Power of Sport" - will be highlighted by an awards dinner to be hosted by Tamron Hall, co-host of NBC's TODAY show and MSNBC's NewsNation, as host.

The dinner will also feature presentations of four annual USOC awards, including the Jack Kelly Fair Play Award presented by BP, the Olympic Torch Award and the Rings of Gold awards for both an individual and a programme.

The four award recipients are due be announced prior to the Assembly next week.

The US Olympic and Paralympic Assembly will be held at the Hilton Hotel in Chicago
©Getty Images






"On behalf of the USOC, I would like to thank the city of Chicago for its hospitality, and the entire US Olympic and Paralympic family for its participation at this important gathering," said Scott Blackmun, chief executive of USOC. 

"We look forward to connecting with our colleagues as we celebrate Team USA, review our progress over the past year and examine ways to enhance the growth and development of sport in the US."

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