Ideas worth spreading

A broken body isn't a broken person

1,811,811 views | Janine Shepherd • TEDxKC

Cross-country skier Janine Shepherd hoped for an Olympic medal -- until she was hit by a truck during a training bike ride. She shares a powerful story about the human potential for recovery. Her message: you are not your body, and giving up old dreams can allow new ones to soar.

Cross-country skier Janine Shepherd hoped for an Olympic medal -- until she was hit by a truck during a training bike ride. She shares a powerful story about the human potential for recovery. Her message: you are not your body, and giving up old dreams can allow new ones to soar.

This talk was presented to a local audience at TEDxKC, an independent event. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

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About the speaker

Janine Shepherd

Janine Shepherd

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Aspiring Olympic skier Janine Shepherd was nearly killed when she was hit by a truck during a training bike ride. Paralysed and immobile for six months, she was given a grim picture for recovery. But not only did she teach herself to walk again— she learned to fly.

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This talk was presented to a local audience at TEDxKC, an independent event. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

Read more about TEDx.