Former Olympic Star Van Dyken (Rouen) Seriously Injured in Crash

((ht: azfamily.com)

Oh, geez, this isn't good.

6-time Olympic Gold Medal swimmer Amy Van Dyken (Rouen) was badly injured in an ATV crash late Sunday afternoon near Scottsdale, Arizona.

Reports say she's in the Intensive Care Unit at Scottsdale Healthcare Osborn Medical Center and the crash dead heavy damage to her back. According to police reports, the ATV she was driving hit a curb. She went over the handlebars and fell five to seven feet down an embankment. She told emergency workers at the scene that she couldn't feel her toes and could not feel anything touching her legs.

Van Dyken (Rouen--She's married to former Denver Broncos punter Tom Rouen) apparently severed her spine at the T11 Vertabrae. A hospital spokesperson says surgery was performed on her back to stabilize the spine and that she was resting comfortably.

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KPNX TV has a TV version of the story---but not with much video:

Here's some video of Van Dyken (Rouen) competing from early in her career at Colorado State: USA Swimming issued a statement: "The USA Swimming family is devastated to learn of Amy Van Dyken's unfortunate accident this weekend," the organization said in a statement. "We're happy to hear that she escaped and is now in great care. That she is already 'acting like her typical spunky, boisterous, ebullient self' shows she's on a great path." "Amy is a champion who has proven throughout her life that she is a fighter who takes on challenges and comes out on top. We know Amy will tackle her rehabilitation with vigor and be back on her feet sooner rather than later," it said. The folks at AZ3 caught up with a fellow swimmer who knows what Van Dyken-Rouen will give her physical therapists during her upcoming rehab ((HT: AZFamily.com/KTVK))