McKenzie Coan Speaks at Girl Power Summit in Tyler Texas

At the ‘Girl Power’ summit held in Tyler, Texas, Paralympic swimming sensation McKenzie Coan captivated an audience at the Christus Mother Frances Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Institute.

The inspirational gathering, part of a series of events orchestrated by the Junior League of Tyler, was enlivened by Coan’s poignant narrative of her battle with osteogenesis imperfecta, more commonly called brittle bone disease.

“Life is replete with lessons,” began Coan, “and while my journey is marked by brittle bone disease, others will face their unique adversities. But ultimately, it all boils down to perspective.” The four-time gold medalist and eight-time world champion is no stranger to adversity. Three of her gold medals were won at the Rio 2016 Paralympics, a feat she achieved while competing with multiple broken ribs, a testament to her sheer determination and resilience.

Coan emphasized the importance of maintaining a positive perspective despite individual adversities. Coan, an eight-time world champion who won three gold medals while competing with multiple broken ribs, conveyed her determination and resilience in overcoming her challenges. She is currently preparing for her fourth Paralympic games in Paris this summer. Her speech served as an empowering message to all present, reinforcing the power of resilience and a positive outlook.

Recounting her triumphant moment in Rio, Coan shared, “I spun around to check the scoreboard. My eyes darted back and forth in sheer disbelief. It was a moment of realization that I had achieved what I had been striving for all my life.”

Now, with her sights set on the forthcoming Paralympic games in Paris, Coan is in the throes of rigorous preparation for what she hopes will be her fourth appearance. Emphasizing the power of positivity, Coan’s keynote message at the summit was about maintaining an optimistic outlook. This sentiment has undoubtedly been a cornerstone in her own journey of triumph over adversity.