. ♪ ♪ better for olympian amy van dyken-rouen than the one this just ended.recovering from a devastating accident. you don't win six olympic gold medals by giving up on a dream. this time she's dreaming even bigger. she wants to walk again. here's matt lauer. ♪ >> amy! >> this was amy van dyken-rouen last month, proudly riding as the grand marshal of the fiesta bowl parade in phoenix. the story of how she got here is one of determination, hard work and courage. before this, what was the biggest adversity you faced in your life? >> that i'm a severe asthmatic. that was the biggest adversity. that's nothing compared to this -- nothing. >> at the age of 41 amy is in the fight of her life. >> van dyken stretching for the wall -- she's got the gold! >> she was one of the greatest olympic champions of all time. but now -- >> i'm now paraplegic. although i aim to not be one day, that's what i am. >> it happened in arizona last june. a near-fatal atv accident that severely damaged her spinal cord and left her paralyzed from the waist down. this is the last picture of

another incredible story, really inspiring athlete, former olympic swimmer, amy van dyken rouen.l with six gold medals. her life was dramatically changed when she was paralyzed in june. matt has been canhas been covering her journey. matt sat down with her and her former nfl kicker husband tom rouen. >> reporter: in the fight of her life. >> van dyken, stretching for the wall. she's got the gold! >> she was one of the greatest olympic champions of all time. am i allowed to sit here? >> yeah. >> what are they doing to you? >> stretching. >> now paraplegic. although i aim to not be one day, that's what i am. >> amy left the hospital in august. she was thankful, optimistic, but worried about what day-to-day living would be like back home in scottsdale, arizona. >> the way that my house is right now, i will not be able to take a shower. even cooking, i can't see if the pots are boiling. i won't be able to reach the faucet to do the dishes. >> i started looking into the changes that needed to be made. i ended up getting in touch with george. >> george is george olyphant, host of the h