Ep. 45 Lindi Marcusen | Paralympian & American Record Holder

Lindi: But I remember I was driving and I just remember being like, having this thought of like, I'm in big trouble and I have a little bit of snippets of memories, but my like memory really, really picks up like six weeks later and like my, what had happened was I was hit by a Ford F350 hauling a backhoe on a two lane highway going 55, 60 miles an hour.

Tarek: Oh my God.

Lindi: And I was in a Honda Accord. So my car was sheared completely in half. And so it was my leg. And so just the fact that I didn't bleed out, science doesn't explain that.

Intro: Welcome to Y'all Street today. I speak with Lindi Markison, a U S Paralympic track and field athlete and American record holder. He's a machine. The machine that's 100% legit. So Chris, you're in a cup of coffee. I just want to be the best.

Tarek: Lindi, would you like a cup of coffee?

Lindi: I'd love one.

Tarek: I got you this special coffee mug. Life happens. Running helps.

Lindi: Running does help.

Tarek: Coffee cheers to you.

Lindi: Cheers.

Tarek: That's how we like it.

Lindi: Yeah.

Tarek: Down the street, nice and hot and strong. Um, so Lindi, for those who don't know much about you or your background, maybe you could give us a short history of your life.

Lindi: Yeah, sure. One. I came out of the womb like a shark. I couldn't stop moving. And so my first love was actually gymnastics. Cause I just couldn't stay right side up either. And my mom was a gymnast, but she was really reluctant to put me on, like to put me in gymnastics just because of how many injuries she had, you know, cause the equipment back in the day wasn't as so your mom was a gymnast. Yes. Yeah. My dad, my mom was a gymnast. My dad was track football, basketball, you know, my, my parents are, my mom's five, two, but my dad's six, four. So yeah. So I, I landed somewhere in between. Um, so I love gymnastics and so I, I couldn't get enough of it. You know, it was exactly what I wanted. It combined the artistic aspect of me as well as like the athletics. And it was just like, if you, there was never an end, what events did you compete all around, all around, but bars and beam ended up being my best events. And I loved it. I did it for about 13 years and my goal was to like do it in college. And that just like fell a little short because my academics weren't up to standard, um, which was definitely a door. I closed for myself that I didn't realize later down the road.

Tarek: Was, was it, was there a learning disability or, or I mean, I have ADHD.

Lindi: I think it was just like, I just didn't want to like, I, if I didn't see the point of something, it was really hard for me to like do it. And so with like school, they're just like, well, what's the point of this? And that was the question I always asked. And, and then I rather go to my metal smithing class than the rest of my classes, you know, so I ended up actually getting a GED and not in high school diploma, like six months after everyone else graduated high school. Um, so that definitely hurt my chances with like collegiate gymnastics.

Tarek: And so was that tough for your family or what was it like being 18 year old you and, you know, going through some of those academic challenges, I think like I, I really struggled with like mental health through high school as well.

Lindi: And I just like, didn't, I didn't quite have the coping skills. I didn't have the structure I needed. So when I went to college for my first semester, like it just, I just felt part. And so I flunked out and so I had to like come back and finish, like I did running start in high school as well. So I had a lot of college credits and was able to finish my associate's degree and then transfer and go to college for college 2.0. Apparently I need like a lot of chances in my life to like, I didn't get it that time. Let's try again.

Tarek: Um, so, um, if you don't mind sharing, you know, these mental health issues, was it depression or anxienty?

Lindi: Yeah. So I technically was diagnosed with depression when I was in seventh grade and I really struggled with anxiety as well. Um, and I didn't, I didn't quite know what, what was going on or why it was going on, but something that was always constant for me was movement was gymnastics. And so that's, that was like my lifeline. And so when I got to the point where it's like, Oh, I wasn't going to reach my goal. Goodness. Like what, what, what now? And so immediately I signed up for a bodybuilding competition the day after I retired from gymnastics, because it was like, I want to do something like I I'm going to go to college. I'm going to finish. Like I switched my major from dietetics to graphic design. Cause I was like, okay, what do I actually like doing? I love to draw. Like this is a part of me that hasn't actually gotten to be expressed as much as I would like. Like it, I would stay awake in class by drawing and like with jewelry, with a metalsmithing, that was a class I took, um, from my sophomore to senior year and I loved it. I just loved making things and it was just very tactile, which I think really was beneficial to me, especially through high school.

Tarek: Do you find that that kind of suppressed your ADHD a little bit having that level of focus?

Lindi: Yeah, a hundred percent. So when I went, so I changed my major and it was just like, and then my mom got diagnosed with pancreatic cancer right before I left for college the second time.

Tarek: Gosh, how old was she at that time?

Lindi: My mom, I think she was 53. She had already gone through breast cancer when I was in fifth grade. And so this was like another thing. And so it's like, I didn't, I didn't want to go to college. Like I just wanted to stay home cause I was like, I, I don't know what's going to happen with my mom. Like, I want to be here. I'm the youngest of four. So I was the one that could be home. And my parents were just like, nope, you're going. And so reluctantly, like I got dragged to college 2.0 and I, I wanted to get in and out as quick as possible.

Tarek: And so community college or university?

Lindi: This was at BYU, Idaho. So I went to BYU Provo flunked out and then college 2.0 went to the campus in Idaho. So it was a little bit closer to home, which I liked. And I just was like, you know what? I'm going to get in and out as quick as I can. And so I worked like a dog and it was like, I had straight A's. I'd never missed classes. They only wanted you to take two studio classes. And I was packing my schedule with four cause I was like, I can handle it. And that's what I did. And so I ended up graduating college when I was 20 with my undergrad.

Tarek: Remarkable.

Lindi: Yeah. Going from GED to graduating college. It's like, okay, if I apply myself, like I'm okay. I just need, I have to want to do it, which is like a little bit of like the rebel in me that comes out. And there I met like this guy and I thought he just was really like tight shipped and I just was kind of interested in getting to know him. And then we ended up being friends. And then I ended up like starting to have feelings for him. And I was like, oh my gosh, I can see a life with this guy. Like, and he was not interested with me. He was like, you're a 19 year old. I'm not, I'm not interested in that. And I just, he was 26. Uh, and I just was like, you don't know me. So that's not fair to say. And so he's like, you're right. So we ended up dating and that's who I married to today. And so I graduated college and then I got married like six weeks later. And then two weeks after that, our lives completely changed.

Tarek: I want to hear about that because this is, this is the turning point in your life.

Lindi: Yeah, this is the turning point. And it was so, it's so interesting. Cause like I couldn't, when people asked me what I wanted to do, I was like, you know what, like graphic designer, I can work anywhere I can, I'm able to work for myself. Like I can see how this is going to fit into my life and I don't, I can't really picture how my life is going to go. And that like kind of made me nervous. Cause people are always asking like, what's your goal? What's your five year goal? What's your 10 year goal? And I just couldn't see it. And so when I got to like, got married and like my, my husband and I, we didn't live together before we got married.

Tarek: So we moved in and I like, let me ask you this question, um, before this. So you had mentioned getting seriously interested in bodybuilding.

Lindi: Yeah.

Tarek: So was that happening now during your college years?

Lindi: Yes. So I did like a competition before I went to BYU Idaho and then I was like, all right, I need to put a lot more mass on. Uh, cause as a gymnast, you're like, you're very lean. You're very like, you're small because you have to move your body weight as quick as possible. And so I took that time to really build through college.

Tarek: So forgive my ignorance here. So when I hear bodybuilding, I think of two different things. So there are the bodybuilders who go and compete and show kind of like Arnold Schwarzenegger, that style of bodybuilding. And then there's the bodybuildings who are bodybuilders who are training for like the Olympics. What kind were you?

Lindi: I was like the NPC. So like Arnold, which I think, um, but with women, you know, they have multiple divisions. So I was the bikini division.

Tarek: Okay.

Lindi: And like, this was, you know, close to 10 years ago where now it's way, way more muscle mass than it was even 10 years ago.

Tarek: Okay.

Lindi: So, but I just, I like had this little itch of like, I love being in the gym. I love training. I love, like, I just need a goal. And I, that's, that's how I want my life to look on a day-to-day basis. And that's been a through line. Cause I was like, that's been my lifeline through my whole life has been movement. So I'm not going to hold that grip with like white and knuckle it.

Tarek: So you get married.

Lindi: So I get married and we have a beautiful wedding and I just is like, I didn't have a job. He lived in Sun Valley. And so I was like, you know what? I'll, I'll get a job, you know, I'll get settled in, moved in, started applying.

Tarek: So just so, so I understand the timeline a little bit. So you have the wedding. Did you immediately go from the wedding to a honeymoon?

Lindi: Yeah.

Tarek: And how long was your honeymoon?

Lindi: 10 days.

Tarek: Okay. So, so now where did you honeymoon out of Hawaii?

Lindi: Kauai. Yeah. Beautiful hiking. Just everything I would want to do with my last two weeks with two legs, to be honest, you come back three days later or two days later, three days. It was, it was the third day we were back the morning of the third day. So we had opened all our wedding presents. We like drove and we had to take some things back in Costco, which I mean, sun Valley is a small town. So like you're driving an hour to go to Costco to like the next bigger town.

Tarek: And so what happened?

Lindi: I, it was interesting. Cause like my husband, like I wasn't going to let him miss his workout. So the day before I noticed he like didn't pack his gym bag and like the, the first thing I do when I'm like in somewhere, I need to get on a routine. I need to get on a routine. My meals need to be pretty much the same and I need to make sure I get my gym time. And then everyone is happier because I'm happier. And so I took his gym bag. We lived like we lived above a farm, like a barn and it was 30 minutes out of town. And so I drove my car in and picked him up. We went to the gym and then it was like, Oh, we don't need to drive both of our cars back. Why don't you just come to work with me the next morning? And then I can go up to like the Starbucks and work on our wedding. Thank you notes. And then we'll both drive home. And that was kind of the plan. And so I went to the gym and they offered me a job to work there, which I was like, nice. Like I have a job, like this is using my degree, but like things just keep getting better at this point. Yeah. I'm like, well, I just, I'm, I'm constantly like pulled between these two passes, like athlete, artist, athlete, artist, but getting a job offer. I was like, okay, great. It's a job. Like I don't have to worry as much. And so we went home that night and I just, I remember just being so homesick and it just was like, that was so weird for me. Cause I'm like, I'm, I'm like, I, I don't know why. And I just remember like literally just like crying to like my husband, which like before my accident was pretty abnormal. Like I would like soak, like suck my tears back in. Like you wouldn't see any emotion. And I just was like, I feel really homesick. I don't know. I don't know why. So we like talked through it and then woke up the next morning, got ready, like did my hair, like put on, put on a dress. Cause it was warm. It was a little sundress. And we drove into town and we get to his work and we part ways. And the last thing he said to me was like, drive safe. And I was like, yeah. And he was like, no, I'm serious. Drive safe. And I said, I will.

Tarek: Was that normal for him?

Lindi: No, that was abnormal. That was abnormal. But I like, I remember it like crystal clear. And so does he. So I make my way like the timeline for like the next little bit doesn't make sense because I'm a very habitual person. And if I don't have a chunk of like two or three hours to work, probably not going to sit down and work. Um, but I drove up further in Sun Valley. Like you have Hailey that's South and then Katchum. That's a little bit North. And I was driving up to catch them to work on winning. Thank you notes. And I like got, I like got a Starbucks and then I think I was headed to my eyelash appointment. And I remember it was a crystal clear day. Like it was like nine 30 in the morning. Nothing, nothing was off, but I, I, what I remember is that I didn't have any control of my car all of a sudden. And I was driving South to go back down to Hailey probably it's like to get my lashes done. And I just remember like totally being out of control.

Tarek: So just so I understand what time of year was this? Or would you say sundress? Yeah.

Lindi: So September, September 13th. Yeah. There wasn't, there wasn't any, there's no snow. It was sunny. Like not any, not anything that would have caused anything, but I remember as driving and I just remember being like having this thought of like, I'm in big trouble and I have a little bit of snippets of memories, but my like memory really, really picks up like six weeks later. And like my, what had happened was I was hit by a Ford F three 50 hauling a backhoe on a two lane highway going 55, 60 miles an hour.

Tarek: Oh my God.

Lindi: And I was in a Honda Accord. So my car was sheared completely in half. And so it was my leg. And so just the fact that I didn't bleed out. Science doesn't explain that. Cause like you're, I had a major artery severed and I pictures of my leg, how I came into the hospital. Cause I met with my surgeons, you know, a year after this, but I was, I was stabilized in Hailey and I, at that time they had given me, you know, a couple units of blood, they didn't know who I was because I didn't, my identification was across the highway.

Tarek: Yeah. So, so going back to the accident for a moment, you lost control of the car. So did your, it was your car that swerved into the opposite lane. Okay. And then the driver in, in the other vehicle, because he was driving such a big vehicle, was he able to walk away? Was he able to help you or call for help or how, how did help arrive and how long did it take?

Lindi: I mean, there's only one road that goes North and South and Sun Valley.

Tarek: Yeah. So it's lock bars.

Lindi: Yeah. So I blocked that road. The other driver, thankfully was not hurt. Um, he, it was a landscaping truck, um, company and I called him a year after and I just was like, Hey, like, can you just kind of tell me what happened? And he just was like, it happened so quick. There was nothing. I like, I just, there was nothing I could do.

Tarek: Hmm.

Lindi: And it was just like, okay. Cause I was just, I just was searching for all these answers that I just have never found questions for.

Tarek: And to this day you have no idea how you lost control of the car.

Lindi: Like there, it was my front tire.

Tarek: Oh gosh.

Lindi: Yeah. So I, I just, you just lose control, you know, when you're going that fast and you have a front tire blow, like there's not, there's not a lot of margin of error on a two lane highway. There's no median to save you. Like there's to stop you, more like Sun Valley, you know, it's just a little two-lane road, two-lane highway.

Tarek: Yeah.

Lindi: And so I sustained, they, they finally like with my vehicle, they like figured out who they could call with the vehicle. Cause like my parents like were the technically like the owners of it. It's like called my mom and they're just like, are you the mom of Lindi Marcusen? And what a horrible call or a horrible, like I, like, I feel so bad for my mom still to this day.

Tarek: Was she in Washington at this time?

Lindi: Yes. Yeah. She was in Washington and my mom's a nurse practitioner. So she was like how, like she knew exactly what they were saying. She's like, okay. Lindi has lost her leg. She has a lot of critical injuries to her lower extremities. We've given her three units of blood already and we're trying to, we're stabilizing, stabilizing her to life lighter to Boise. And so my, my mom called my dad and then they called, they called Nate and Nate was at work and his boss was late coming into work because there was some accident with some girl and I wasn't answering my phone, which was uncharacteristic. And so he, it took him, he didn't know until about 2 PM in the afternoon when he found out that the accident was me. And so he immediately just like his work colleague was nice enough to drive him to, cause he just was, he couldn't use hysterical, you know, a new bride, right? Like I can't even imagine being in his shoes, but his work colleague drove him to Boise and he was the one to identify me cause I was like, I was a Jane Doe cause they didn't have anyone for sure with identification for me. And so I was in the fight for my life because I had, I had a compound fracture, my femur on my quote unquote sound side. So the leg that wasn't torn off and then I had multiple fractures in my tibia, like my pelvis was shattered ribs, like internal injuries, internal bleeding. And what they didn't know is I also had this traumatic brain injury and so they couldn't, they had to get me stabilized cause you can't get an MRI with, with all the things that are keeping you alive. Um, I was intubated. I was basically put in a medically induced coma and every surgery they would fix as much of my body as they could, that I could handle and they still couldn't find the bleeding internally. They couldn't stop it. So at this point I had like 30 units of blood and they, this is two weeks of, this is about 13 days after my accident. And they're just like, you know, we've, we've gone through 30 units of blood. Like, we don't, we don't know. We don't know. We don't, we don't, she's not going to make it. So my siblings flew in and they were, they, my siblings, I mean, they shared all my dirty secrets that I had, man, goodness. But that's because they thought like, they thought I was going to die. Like, what else are you going to like? So they got together and they shared everything that was funny about me. Everything. Like they just really like were there to just be together.

Tarek: They thought this was the end.

Lindi: Yes. Because on paper it was, you know, at that point they found out that I had a severe diffuse axonal head injury. And for layman's terms, that's a basically adult shaken baby syndrome. And so all your neurons that are connected are sheared in half. And so you might be alive, but like, who's there. And my family, unfortunately have had a couple more experiences with accidents. I had a grant. My grandfather was hit by a driver on a motorcycle and suffered a massive traumatic brain injury and just never regained consciousness really beyond like a second grader and he lived that way for 30 years. And so my whole family were like, we're not going to, we're not going to, we can't keep her here. Like we're not going to put her through that hill. And so I was put on palliative care. And so that's when my siblings came and cause that was, that was going to be the end. And I can't explain why, but the next morning I was awake eating peaches and cracking jokes.

Tarek: That was the first time that you had regained consciousness.

Lindi: Yeah. Well, I don't, I don't remember this. This is like what I've been told. And so I, I was like eating peaches, which is like, I don't eat, I don't really like fruit so I can eat a banana and like, that's about it. So, but I was, I was swallowing a, that's a big thing with a brain injury because that's what's affected. Cause so if you're not eating, you're not going to, you're not going to survive. And so I, they asked me what I wanted to do cause they're like, okay, what, like, do you want us to keep like pushing? Do you want us to keep, what do you want? And I told him like, hashtag pink.

Tarek: That's what you said.

Lindi: That's what I said. And it was just like, okay, like my siblings, like my sister was looking through my Instagram, like, geez, what, what could that mean? But my mom survived breast cancer. And so hashtag pink meant fight. And so they were like, okay, okay. So I, with a head injury, the recovery is atrocious. I like, I am so grateful and that I've recovered as well as I have, but it, it is literally crawled out of my grave.

Tarek: So yeah, maybe you can walk us through that process. What was, I guess, every key milestone or stage and what was the experience like for you and how long did it take for you to fully recover?

Lindi: Yeah. So for the first, like with the brain injury, your affection and your aggression are right next to each other in your brain. And so oftentimes those get switched. And so I was extremely aggressive to the point where they had to put a sign above my hospital bed that says, caution, patient has a tendency to bite. Like I was ripping out IVs, ripping out feeding tubes. Like it was, it took everybody just to keep me on my bed. Cause I was like, no, I need to go upstairs. Like I need to go upstairs. And they're like, you literally have like two broken, like you are broken, you're not going upstairs.

Tarek: You were heavily medicated. I assume at this point, I'm sure that had an impact.

Lindi: Yes. Yeah. And so they are pumping, like, it's not like, it's not like light stuff either. Like it's dilaudid, like it's the heavy duty stuff. And, but there got to be a point where I wasn't complaining about pain and they are still pumping me through like medications and that would just like, cause I was easier to deal with if I was asleep and I, I understand, but my mom, like my, both my parents are medical. And so my mom's like, look, she is not complaining about pain. Like we need to like, just don't give her any, like we got to keep her awake a little bit so that brain can start like making those new, those connections again. And so about six weeks later, I remember waking up and it was this hospital room was super dark because light really irritates people with like head trauma, you know, or concussions, you know, dim room. And I just was like, where, where am I? My mom was by my bed and she's like, you, you, you were in a really, really bad car accident. I just was like, what, what do you mean? And she was like, you were in a really bad car accident. You lost your leg and you have, you've, you have a lot of other injuries that we're dealing with. And I just was like, well, how long have I been here? She's like six weeks. And I was like, well, what the hell have I been doing? And she's like, uh, like, uh, you've been, you've been fighting for your life. So I would just was like shocked. And I just, the first thing I said was like, I'm never going to flip again because what the brain injury did is it basically like pushed me back to like basically go through like who I was as a person again. So it's like I had to go through purity again, basically. So I woke up and it was like, I had to go through purity again. I had to learn how to write again because I couldn't write my name. Like, I didn't know, I didn't know who the president was. I like literally had to be like told what my life was. Like, you know, you just got married, like you're married to Nate.

Tarek: Like you didn't recollect any of that.

Lindi: I, for the first little bit, no.

Tarek: Did you, this might seem like a silly question, but did you remember if you were right-handed or left-handed?

Lindi: Yeah. So I did like, I did remember I am right-handed. Um, I eat with my left hand though. Um, but I, I'm right-handed and so it just was like starting. Cause all those neurons that like, the reason why we know how to do something is because those neurons are connected in our brain and then it sends the information down to our nervous system. Like that controls our limbs and the rest of our bodies. And so it was like, okay, we got to reconnect these. And it was like, I favored, like, I would not look to my left side either. Cause this side was like more affected, even though like with diffuse sexual head injuries, it's a global, because it's basically caused by a massive, like acceleration deceleration. So it's like, so I, so I woke up and they, at that point, my family was trying to get me to Spokane to do rehab because my parents, like Nate was there like full time, but they would take shifts. Like my, my mom would be up for a week and then my dad would be up for a week. And like, they're trying to balance their work schedules and being there to help Nate take care of me.

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Tarek: Let's backtrack just a second. Um, at this moment, when you see your mom, this is about six weeks into it. You don't remember for a brief spell that you're married or who you're married to. What was the scene like when you saw Nate for the first time?

Lindi: When I saw Nate, I just like, I feel like my body remembered him. Like I just was like, like my soul remembered him and it was just like, Oh, there you like, there you are. Like, that's how I felt.

Tarek: And what was his reaction?

Lindi: He just was, I mean, he's seen me every day for the last six weeks. So he just was, I don't think that he realized that that was my first time to click save because it was, it took a while for like my short term to transfer to long-term because it was just like, like 51st States, like it would just, you would start over, start over.

Tarek: And so what was the moment like for you? I mean, I, I know that your world is just completely rattled at this point, but at least in the historical timeline, you have been building up and building up and building up and building up to this wedding, the day that you're supposed to look the most beautiful and the, the, you know, the white dress and the pictures and the photographers and all of that. And then you go on your honeymoon and here we are at least mentally a very short time after that. And you are in your worst possible state.

Lindi: Yeah.

Tarek: What was their pause for reflection on the impact that that was going to have on your marriage? Or was there, were you thinking only about the, you know, the physical recovery or, or I guess I'm trying to understand what is the future feel like for you in that moment when you're with Nate in the hospital room?

Lindi: I just, I couldn't even, I couldn't even think about the future. Like I couldn't even, the only future was like, is this ever going to end? Like, am I ever going to not be in pain? Am I ever going to like get back to life? Like it just, I just didn't quite, I knew Nate was going to, I like him, I wasn't ever worried about, but the statistics for marriages with people with, in trauma or especially like brain injuries, like it's not favorable.

Tarek: Yeah. And I think that's where my, my question is going a bit because we, we stand at the wedding vows and it's in sickness and in health till, you know, death do you part. And, you know, we're so happy on our wedding day, we're really contemplating or thinking about exactly whether or not those words are going to be tested and to what degree are they going to be tested? And when I heard your story for the first time, knowing that this occurred 13 days after your wedding day, I, I immediately, you know, think about the, the impact of those words and, you know, and we'll fast forward here at, at some point in this journey, but with, with Nate being by your side all the way through just really a testament to that commitment.

Lindi: Yeah. And like, I'm not like, I won't try to like say that, you know, our marriage was always strong. Like we did almost get divorced. Like we, we had divorce papers and then it was like, you know what? We actually, I don't want that. Like, I'm not going to sign those like, but it wasn't, it was never him. It was like, I always felt like such a burden because I was like, he didn't ask. He did not ask for this. And at that, like, we had no idea what recovery was going to look like. No, like brain injuries are so like, no brain is the same. And like no brain injury is the same. And so I just felt so like, I'm just like, you did not sign up for this, but like he has been an absolute like rock for me. And I think it's interesting. Like when you, when you get married, like you want that super debtful relationship, you know, that you look at people who have been married for like 25 plus years that they have, but like you only get that through living life through the hard moments, through the good moments. That's the only way to get a marriage like that. And so I would not trade anything. Like my, like I always say, like my most, my biggest accomplishment is not the Paralympic games is not the records. It's the fact that I was able to save my marriage, that we were able to save our marriage through something like that.

Tarek: It's truly remarkable.

Lindi: Thank you.

Tarek: It really is. So Nate is, is working with you now through this recovery process. And I want to understand a little bit about your mental state. I've spoken to, as you know, world-class athletes on this podcast, and we talk a lot about mental health. You mentioned that even as a young girl, you struggled with mental health. Well, now you have a traumatic brain injury that you have to recover from. And even, even in completing the recovery, you're still having to deal with, I'm sure many of the same emotions that we all deal with, like you said, depression, anxiety, or whatever the case may be. So take us in this phase or this chapter of your journey, walk us through the recovery in the, in the head injury process.

Lindi: Yeah. So with the, so I'm in rehab and I'm finally can say who the president is. I can finally say like what injuries I have. Cause they're like, they're asking you all of your medical history. And it was just like, dude, I just got here. Like, so it took me a while to like, get to remember what people were saying, like what injuries I had to re so I could relay it. And I just like, it felt so like I felt like me, but I was me who, when I was like 16, like just very erratic, very emotional, like the brain injury took everything about me and just put an exclamation point on it, which like a little bit of a temper, you know, like, and you just, I, it's so hard to explain it because I always like, it took a, it took a long time for me to like talk about my brain injury because people automatically like kind of discredit you. So if you're emotional, it's like, Oh, that's just the brain injury. It's like, no, like this is actually something that needs to be addressed.

Tarek: And so you had mentioned around the time of your wedding that you, you withheld a lot of your tears. Were you somebody that cried a lot, you know, in your, in your teen years? Or is that just something that you kept suppressed?

Lindi: I guess I just stuffed it down, you know, just boom. And then this, this like accident, just like floodgates floodgates. I just was like, Oh my gosh, I have tear ducts now. Like what is going on? And it's been, that's been actually a very big honor to go through that because I think like, we're not here to only feel the good things. Like I'm here to experience like the depths of what life is and the highs, because like, you can't have one without the other. And so it's like, I just feel so grateful that I get that texture now and that richness in my life just because it like emotions give you so much information. And like, they are there. They don't mean anything about you. They're like, they're just information. Like I like to, like I always explain it. It's like, we're, we're the sky and like our emotions are like the clouds that come through and like we have the capacity to hold multiple emotions at once, which has been a skill that I've had such the honor to, to learn how to carry because I've gone through the heights of being married, getting married to like love of my life and then the depths of like getting smashed by a Ford F three 50.

Tarek: Mm hmm.

Lindi: And the, the contrast that that has

Tarek: those, those extreme moments in, in people's lives and you talk about the hardships and the challenges. It does force a measure of self-examination that oftentimes we avoid when things are just sort of normal and, you know, fairly benign. And, um, it just makes me think of the philosopher who said the unexamined life is not worth living.

Lindi: Yeah.

Tarek: And this forces you to examine your life in some really profound ways.

Lindi: Yeah. Basically like, like my life was just shattered, you know? And it was like, it took a while. Like I acted like it wasn't, and I'd just be like, cause I was also a very, very private person before this. And so I didn't want anyone to know my business or anything, which is like so funny now because, you know, I'm on social media and like I'm all this, but I'm but I had a friend tell me I'm selfish if I'm not sharing about my story. So that was exactly the, the comment I needed. Um, but I, I was able to just put my life back together super, super intentionally because it was, there was, it was dust. And so that's like, that's actually why my legs gold is because like the Japanese pottery technique Kintsugi it's like the broken pieces of pottery that are mended back together with veins of gold. Cause I was like, you know what? Like I'm still here. Like all those medical providers work their butts off so that I could have a second, third chance at life. So I'm going to make sure I'm intentional about it. I'm going to make sure I'm like treating it like I'm devoted to it. And it's going to, that's going to show up in every single aspect of my life.

Tarek: Well, you've, you've come to the right place to talk about gold. We're very pro gold here. Notice the gold necklace that you have. Yeah, that's great. So your, um, your recovery, then you're from your brain injury, was there a moment where you felt like you had fully recovered, how long did this recovery process take for you?

Lindi: The recovery goodness. I feel like, like three years, probably, you know, I started, I started working. So my accident was in September. I started working like in January again. Like, I, I don't know if I would do that again, but wow.

Tarek: So I, we have to hit the pause button. So you've lost your leg. You were in a medically induced coma for six weeks. You have a traumatic brain injury. And how are you back at work in January?

Lindi: I just wanted, I wanted my life back. I like wanted to act like this had not happened.

Tarek: So you were functional and moving about.

Lindi: I was, I was still in a wheelchair, my guy, because I had a lot of fractures in my pelvis. Like I actually wasn't able to weight bear for like three and a half months after, like, so, but I was, I was working at my old gymnastics club at a job I had previously and it wasn't full time. It was just like, it was maybe, I think about 15 hours, but it was just like, man, I gotta, I gotta do something. Like, I gotta get back.

Tarek: All of those people that you had been in the gym with plus, you know, all of the friends and family and the people at your wedding, um, I'm sure there must have been some type of outpouring of support and people reaching out. And I mean, what, what did that feel like? And, and what did that open up for you? And I'm sure there are people, you know, I think about, you mentioned your siblings, you know, when, when you realize you were this close to losing a sibling, the nature of that relationship might change.

Lindi: Yeah.

Tarek: As well. So I'm just curious what that was like for you.

Lindi: Just the support from the community. Like I, like my gymnastics community, they started a GoFundMe and they raised like $40,000 to help pay for medical bills. Mind you, my legs just alone are worth $2 million right now and still ticking.

Tarek: Oh gosh. Like you're still paying medical bills.

Lindi: No. Like, well, I mean, paying for prosthetics aren't cheap.

Tarek: Oh, right, right.

Lindi: Prosthetics are not cheap and you don't have one for the rest of your life, but they, they helped, you know, I had really great insurance, you know, I was still, I was 21. So I was on my parents' insurance still, like, thank goodness.

Tarek: Um, but that was, and both being in the medical profession, they likely had pretty good medical insurance.

Lindi: Yes. Yeah. And there was, once all my medical bills were paid, there is a little bit left over and that's what I bought my first running blade with and running knee.

Tarek: Explain what that is.

Lindi: A running, a running knee and a running blade. So running knee is basically like, allegedly it's a glorified door hinge. You know, it's mechanical. It does not help you run. It's controlled by what your femur is doing in your, what's called a socket. And the socket is the, basically the cylinder that your residual limb goes into, and so that's your knee. And then, uh, the blade is like the little paperclip looking thing and it's carbon fiber and it basically is designed to act like someone's Achilles. And so it has a compression and it returns and recoils so that you get a spring. So it's basically like a trampoline.

Tarek: Oh, interesting.

Lindi: Yeah.

Tarek: So for those, those who are listening and not watching on, um, on y'all street.com, you've lost your right leg. Yes. And what, what percentage of your femur were you able to retain to fit into this device?

Lindi: So that was my, my family. There was two surgeons and there was one that wanted to take my leg high up. And then there was other, another, cause I didn't have enough skin. Like my skin was kind of like, like my, when I, I try not to be super graphic, but like my leg was ripped off. And so there was another surgeon that was like, look like we still have her calf muscle because my calf muscle was like dangling. She's like, why don't we take this, wrap it around the bottom of your femur and let's do some skin graphs to cover it. And so my family, like they're like, okay, medical, you know, femur blood production, like the more of the bone we can keep the better, the higher up your amputation is the more it feels like you're walking in like feet, feet of snow. Like it just is really, cause you have to like, if you think about it, your hip joint is doing the work of your knee joint and ankle. And so to have a longer lever physics. And so it's going to be easier to walk. And so that's what my family picked was like, let's keep as much as her femur. We can always take more if we need to. Let's do the skin graft. And so I have a hundred percent, my femur left.

Tarek: Remarkable.

Lindi: Yes.

Tarek: The decisions made in that moment by your family and, and the doctors on staff to get to a good hospital.

Lindi: It's really honestly like so many miracles. Cause this, like this surgeon, I think she had worked there maybe six weeks. She was like, right, right. She was a new surgeon at a, at a residency.

Tarek: Oh, so limited experience too.

Lindi: Well, I think she had, she'd done one other what's it's called a knee disarticulation amputation. And she had one other one that she had done, but it's very uncommon. It's very uncommon, especially in the U S the Europeans. They do it a little bit more, but the U S don't, they don't do it as much. Cause it's a little bit harder to fit with a prosthetic.

Tarek: Have you maintained contact with anybody that, that worked with you?

Lindi: Yeah. You know, I love when I love when my, the nurses that took care of me, cause like, I don't like, I don't remember, but they're like, I've had night nurses that like, I just love seeing how far you've come, like I was someone who took care of you and it's like, that gives me a chance to say thank you to them, you know, and it, it took everybody, especially the ones that you bit. I know. I know. I'm like, I'm so sorry. Like that was a different person.

Tarek: So, um, you, you were talking about the prosthetics and was there a process to determine like, almost like shopping for the right prosthetic for you that you were looking for?

Lindi: Yeah. I mean, prosthetic is a prosthetics are a world that if you are not in it, you do not know anything about it. And so I, in rehab, like in St. Luke's rehab, that's where I was at the processes came. And the first thing you have to do is you have to control swelling before you even get a prosthetic because you don't want to get it. And then your body, you know, takes care of the swelling and then your, your leg doesn't fit because they need to fit tighter than a glove basically, which is so hard to do because like your body is such a dynamic thing and you're getting it to fit into like a fixed cylinder. And so I didn't, I wasn't weight bearing for like a few months, so I'd already gone home before I was able to get a prosthetic, but it like, it just was like your prosthesis is like, this is what I recommend. And they're like, well, I don't know anything different. And so you kind of just like go, you just go with it. So now like new amputees, I'm like, ask questions, like, don't like, don't take the first recommendation, like see what you like and what works for you because everyone's like, like body mechanics are different. Everyone's activity level is different. And so that's like, I got thrown into this and I got started.

Tarek: Do you talk to other amputees?

Lindi: Yeah. Yeah. I'm part of a ParaSport Spokane and that they're an adaptive sport program. And there's a lot of amputees that come through there, you know, people that were born with a limb difference or people who are having to get an amputation for variety of reasons. And, you know, I'm an open book, you know, I'm going to, I'm going to share my experience and then encourage them to like find what works best for them.

Tarek: Yeah. You, if we take it back to January, you start getting back to work, you're, you're in that wheelchair. You begin this long progression towards, um, getting upright, working on your physical therapy, your mental health, trying to get back into the mode of a normal marriage again. What is going on in your mind? I know that you're still struggling with, with the accident, but the mental health aspect of your journey, where were you in the early days? And what did that progression look like as time went on?

Lindi: I was, I was angry. I was so mad, which anger, like anger gives you the energy to do something, so it's useful. But I was very ups. I was, I was pissed. Cause I was like, I did every, like I did everything right. You know, like I took care of my body. I like always took the stairs, you know, like, and so I, I just was really, really angry.

Tarek: And were you asking why did this happen to me? Yeah.

Lindi: But at the same time, I'm like, I also could see, I'm like, wow, my siblings could not handle this. Like it made so much sense, you know? Cause like with a gymnast background, with the balance, with a prosthetic, everything that I had done in my life basically felt like it trained me for this. And so it was like, why me? But then it was like, okay, but this all makes sense because like, and I'm not one to believe everything happens for a reason. I don't like, that's not something that I believe in. I think that we have the ability to create our own reasons for why things happen. And I like that because it gives us the power to do something ourselves. So nothing's predetermined because I could have gotten like, I like the first reaction, like I was, I was angry. And so I, I was drinking, I was drinking every night, which is the worst thing you can do with like the medications I was on with a brain injury.

Tarek: Right.

Lindi: But I just like, I just didn't care. Like, I was just like, this feels like a wash.

Tarek: Like I just felt in what did Nate say at that time?

Lindi: Well, that's when we were separated.

Tarek: I see.

Lindi: So that's when we were separated. So, and like, I, I've a lot of post-traumatic amnesia through this time. And so I don't like everything that I'm recalling. Some, some of it's my memory. Some of, most of it is like other people telling me what had happened.

Tarek: I see.

Lindi: And so I, there was one like time though, cause I got a second job as a jeweler. And so that was helping with my left side coordination a lot. And I just, I like, I started to read. Cause I was like, okay, I got like, I am, I'm not going to go without a fight. Like this isn't me. This isn't who I want to be like, this isn't, I don't want this. So I look, I took back to like what I loved doing. And so I started to read, started to write, started to draw again. And I have the journal that I kept that I drew in and you can see like my progression back to what I was like, I, I just had a fine arts degree, you know? So I started continuing, like the consistency is what helped build it. And so I like reached out to Nate and I was just like, Hey, you know, I went to therapy, that was the other thing that was a big thing. And it's like, I always say if my therapist isn't going to heaven, like I don't want to go, you know? Like that's how, like, honest to God, she just, she was so helpful in navigating all this and it, because I'd stuffed everything down so far, I was like, well, while we're here, let's just take care of the whole spectrum. Like, I'm going to make sure that what I've been through is not going to affect anybody else in a bad way. Cause it already had. And I didn't like that. Like there's friendships that like, that the fuse that I just didn't, couldn't control with a brain injury. Like I said, very hurtful things. And it's like, I, it's hard when you're, I felt like someone else was living my life with my face. And then I had to come back and clean up the mess and it, and then telling people like, no, it's actually me this time. You know what I mean? So that was like, that was a big hurdle. And so the way I communicated it to like my friends and family was like, okay. Lindi 1.0 was who I was pre-accident. Lindi 2.0 was who I am like going through my accident. Lindi 3.0, this is who I am right now. And like, I'm building her intentionally. And so that helps like everybody kind of organize it and it, and help us move forward in a new light.

Tarek: Amazing.

Lindi: It's a lot to process. Yeah.

Tarek: What was the turning point that led you on this Paralympic journey?

Lindi: I actually had an occupational therapist in rehab asked me if I've ever seen someone run, run with a running blade and of like, I have no idea how I was able to pull this name out of the ether, but I was like, yeah, Oscar Pistorius. And she was like, yeah, South African runner. Yeah. That ran in, he was the only amputee that ran in the Olympics and he will only be the only, like there's rules that amputees actually can't be in the Olympics now because of Oscar. So Paralympics and for people who don't know Paralympics are alongside the Olympics and it's for people with physical disabilities, but it's the same. Like same competition, same, same, well, not the same sports, but it's competitive. Like it's, it's, it's not a special Olympics is a lottery and that's people with intellectual disabilities. But Paralympics is like, you have to, you have to qualify your way.

Tarek: And it was also the last Olympics was in Paris. So it really does literally run alongside the Olympic games.

Lindi: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Same stadiums, same venues, same everything. It's just two weeks after the Olympics. And that's like, that's something I didn't know because that's like the same occupational therapist was like, have you ever heard of the Paralympics? I was like, no, what's that?

Tarek: And that was just like lighting a fuse because you are somebody that needs.

Lindi: Well, not at that time. I w I didn't want to hear it. I was like, I can't even walk. And you're talking to me about running. Like, I just, I was like, I just want the life I had back. I don't, I don't, I don't want a new life.

Tarek: Why do you think the occupational therapist mentioned that to you? Did they see something in you that you didn't see in yourself?

Lindi: Well, she, she saw my chart and like gymnast, bodybuilder athlete, you know? You know? So she was like, I think this would be a good goal for you. I think you would like it. And I think you would be good at it. And I was like, like, girl, I'm not even walking. Like, so it wasn't until like, I hit like rock bottom about like nine or 10 months post-accident, because that's when the adrenaline like runs out. That's when people stop checking in on you.

Tarek: Yeah.

Lindi: Like in court, like it's, I don't say that to like dog on anybody or anything that just everyone like life continues, everyone's life continues, but like mine stopped and took like a totally different direction, but I kept that in my mind and so when I was like, when I was intentionally putting my life, Lenny 3.0 back together, I was like, you know what I love, I love the gym. And like, I don't know how to do it in the same way now. Like I need some help. I need a coach. So I looked up Paris sports, Spokane, and I like went to their strength and conditioning on Tuesday nights and I couldn't, I wasn't wearing a prosthetic at that time, so I crutched in and I didn't even make it across the gym floor without falling because my, I slipped on cause it was snowy and so I slipped and I just was like, oh my gosh, but no one rushed to help me up and I was like, wait a second. Cause if I would have fallen like in the public, people are like, oh my gosh, oh my gosh. Like, like they're like, and it's because you know, they, they want their caring, but they're just like, no, let her get up. So I was like, oh, that was refreshing. Then my coach who still coaches me today, walks over, introduces himself and he's like, what do you want to do? I said, I want to run and I want to run fast. He's like, oh, okay. And he didn't laugh at me before then everyone had like scoffed at me, but he was like, yeah, we can help you with that. Like, so not like so nonchalant, so easy. I said, okay. He's like, do you want to do a workout? I'm just like, yeah.

Tarek: Now I know you were an athlete in a gymnast, but were you a fast runner beforehand?

Lindi: I did track in like seventh grade cause my friends did.

Tarek: Yeah.

Lindi: And like, I, I was, I was fast. I was fast. And so I think like gymnastics just, I like, I love the sport just because it gives you such a good base to like transfer to like any different sport. You know, my dad was a track athlete, you know? So I really haven't missed a practice since like I've missed like two practices since that day.

Tarek: And when was that?

Lindi: I was 2019. That was February, 2019. So it took me about a year and a half post-accident to walk in.

Tarek: That's, I mean, pretty fast timeline in some respects, but also very fortuitous timing because this is right before COVID. And had you not set yourself on that path pre COVID knowing that you'd had some pretty bad lows, that might've been a difficult time in your life.

Lindi: A hundred percent. And like, I COVID was COVID was so interesting, but for me, it was great. Like I could do two day workouts and like we did, we did it over zoom. Like I didn't miss, like, I don't, I remember I counted, like I didn't miss a workout during COVID and it was all on my own. So like I, it was a chance for me to really focus on being an athlete. And then the games were pushed back for Tokyo. And so I was like, oh my gosh, the door is open for me. Like I could get there. Like there's enough time that I could probably get my times fast enough to qualify. So I was at Tokyo trials, but I didn't make the team.

Tarek: Well, what were the events that you participated in?

Lindi: So the, so each for para track and field, each disability has a, what's called a classification. And so for my classification, female above knee amputees, we have the a hundred meters that's available and long jump that's available. So not every disability class can do every event. And there's like, there's no hurdles, like there's no pole vault. So it just is a little bit different in events, but I was like, perfect. Those are the ones like I want to do.

Tarek: So, um, please forgive this. If this is an ignorant question, but do they make a distinction between the amputees that have one leg amputated and those that have both legs amputated?

Lindi: So they're combined.

Tarek: They are? OK.

Lindi: So they, they take it for the level of amputation that you have. So you have your below the knee amputees. So that's like your trans tibial or your like tradition. And then you have your above knee amputees that need like an artificial knee joint to run. And the double above knees are, are paired together. And then the single, and then like the below the knees, like single and double are paired together. If that explains it.

Tarek: Yep, got it.

Lindi: Yeah.

Tarek: Got it. You made it to the trials when you missed out on the Paralympics. What was that feeling like to you?

Lindi: I, I mean, I was, well, I was devastated. I, but I remember stepping up to the start line and I just like, I felt out of place still. I felt like I just wasn't, I just didn't feel like I was supposed to be there. And I'm really grateful. I didn't make that team because like mentally and emotionally, I wasn't ready to like, enjoy what it was to be on the start line at a Paralympic games. We're in team USA. Like I wasn't there yet.

Tarek: So when you missed out on the opportunity, um, you mentioned your mental state wasn't there to actually go. Yeah. What was it like when you were sent back home?

Lindi: I like the next day I was back on the track, like still at the, in Minneapolis trials, that's where trials was. And I was back on the track. Like, okay. Like back to work.

Tarek: So if I go back in the timeline, 2017 is when the injury happens, the accident happens, and you said that it took you about three years to get this brain injury under control, was it totally back to normal at the trials or did that not happen until you came back?

Lindi: No, I think like brain injury wise, like I feel like I was good, but I feel like processing that amount of trauma just takes a while.

Tarek: Yeah.

Lindi: Takes a while. It's not something you can rush. Like we can't grieve all at once.

Tarek: Yeah.

Lindi: Like it's still like, it's, you know, you've gone through like a mental and emotional explosion. And so three years down the road, there's still going to be a little shrapnel piece shrapnel pieces that are coming out.

Tarek: Yeah.

Lindi: So I just, I wasn't, I wasn't there. I wasn't there physically either. Cause I didn't make the team, you know? And, but I was back on the track the next day and I was like, I still remember like what I said to myself, it's like, you know, I'm, I'm still strong. I'm still fast. And I'm still like a force to be reckoned with. Like my time is just not yet.

Tarek: This gives you the focus you need. You come back and you know, Rocky music is playing in the background. Like you are focused on this next Paralympics.

Lindi: I just got back to work. You know, I was like, okay, I just need more time. I need to get stronger. I need to get faster. I, there's a lot of improvements we need to make on my prosthetic because amputees are, I mean, it's basically like human F one, like you can have a good driver, but if you have a crappy car, you're not going to be successful.

Tarek: Interesting.

Lindi: So with, with the prosthetic, it was like, all right, we need to make improvements with how it, how it's fitting with what my blade is, where it's at, what, what setup I have, and that's exactly what I did. I said, okay, I'm not, I'm not going to miss the next one. And I missed the next one. Next, next like world's team. And it just was like, I just need to keep going. I just need more time. So when 2024 comes around, I had missed the, the world's team in March, which like having a selection event in March is crazy in track and field. Like that's when season starts, you know? So to be at P at a peak at that time was a challenge, but I miss, I miss that team, but I set my first American record there at that, at that nationals. And so I was like, okay, we're, we're doing something right.

Tarek: How did that feel?

Lindi: It felt like I felt so emotional because it's funny. We didn't think that I would be a hundred. We didn't think the a hundred meter would be a better event for me out of long jumping a hundred meters because of my reaction time with the brain injury. And like, lo and behold, like everyone's like my coach and I are still surprised. Because that's my better event currently. And so when I said set the American record and that was, that was such a special competition at that nationals, because every time I stepped onto the track, I PRed so every, like you have six long jumps, every long jump was further, was further, was further. Like, so that, that was one in a lifetime, I feel like, so I took, I took that and I actually went over to Europe by myself so that I could, because my blades gotten stuck in customs. So, so I was like, well, I need to go to Germany and get those myself. Cause that's where they're manufactured. And so I did, I didn't really know where I was going to stay. Freaked, freaked my parents out. My husband was like, I'm trusting you. I'm trusting you. I said, I got this. Like, I feel like there was a, uh, basically who's my advisor now. He, he was the one that I met earlier at like a training camp and he just was like, you got to come to Germany. And so I was like, okay, you don't have to say it twice. I bought my ticket. I'm coming. So he got me set up with a new, like better equipment. And so I would be prepared for trials. That was in July. So trials, like there's, there's competition stress and then there's trials competition stress and that like I've, I've competed at a high level for the majority of my life with gymnastics and like, and trials is just something else, but I had done Tokyo and so I knew what to expect for Paris. And so it was Miami in July, which is like the worst for amputees cause sweat and prosthetics don't mix.

Tarek: Hmm.

Lindi: And like I, I had my schedule was I had the open a hundred meters, which we were treating as a prelim. And then long jump would happen to be at the same time. And so I was going to run the, like, go out, get my mark for long jump, come back into the call tent, run the a hundred meters, then go back and finish long jump. And then the next day I had long jump or I had a hundred meter final and 10 minutes before I had to go into the call tent, my valve on my prosthetic pops out. Because it's so hot that the plastic is like too flexible that it's not holding my valve in. So I'm just like, you know what? Like, it's fine. Like, we'll just put ice on it. It's going to work out. Like, I just was so calm because I knew that if I just executed, I was going to be on that team and I knew it was going to come together. So like, put ice on, put ice on my fake leg to cool it down. Like, they're like, wait, what year are you the fake one, you know, but it worked. And so I ran, I ran the American record. And so I was like, okay, we've got to go back to long jump. I got to finish long jump. And then my valve popped out again. And so I was like, I asked my coach, I was like, what's, what's the minimum entry standard for Paris that I have to jump right now so that I can be able to compete that as well. So you told me the distance I jumped that and I scratched the rest. Cause I was like, okay, my prosthetic needs, like, this is not safe. And so I was able to get my prosthetic fixed to for finals the next, the next day, and I ran a quicker time, but it was when dated, so it didn't, it didn't count as a record, but it was quicker than I ran the day before.

Tarek: At this point, had sponsors taken notice of you? Did you already have sponsors? How does that work?

Lindi: I had my first sponsor and that was the prosthetic, my prosthetic company, Ottobock, but it took me setting an American record and like it took, it took a big splash to get that attention. Like I booked to meet the guy who is my like advisor, basically, like I booked a ticket down to San Diego again, didn't know where I was going to stay to do a training camp so I could work with him and like meet him because like he he's a above knee amputee himself. He was a previous world record holder. He's a 20, he has 27 medals. Like he, he knows he's, he's a great athlete. He was a great athlete. And so that was who my sponsor was, which to have just a little bit of help with prosthetics is huge.

Tarek: So are the prosthetics regulated?

Lindi: Yes.

Tarek: So what are some of the things that you have to be concerned?

Lindi: So with the componentry, so with knees and feet, it has to be available to every competitor. So, but the socket, what your limb fits into, that is what's custom. And that like, that's gotta be by person by person. And so that isn't necessarily regulated, but like the goal is to get that as like sturdy, but as light as possible. So like how you configure things together is different, like person by person. But that's where like, you have to figure out what your running mechanics are, what you're going to run fastest with, but you can't use Pete. You can't like make a new blade that no one else can have access to. So that's where it's regulated.

Tarek: I see.

Lindi: And you make it to Paris, make it to Paris, make it to Paris by the skin of my teeth. And I, I just, I enjoyed it. I enjoyed it. You know, I, I, it was drinking from a fire hydrant. Cause it's, it's a lot like you're, you're in the village, like you're shut off from the rest of the world. Like you're walking half a mile, one way to get food. That's what people don't realize. And for an above knee amputee walking is take seven times more energy for me to walk than someone with two legs. So like that, that's something you have to take into consideration. So I took a scooter cause I was like, well, I'm not going to be burning like that much to get food. Like, yeah, but it was, it was so like, it was an experience of a lifetime. And then walking like the Paralympics sold out the stadium too. That's what people don't realize.

Tarek: What was the most memorable part about being in the village? When you talk about the experience of a lifetime. And I guess I'm, I asked this of other athletes as well, but what's it like putting on the Jersey, the United States of America and representing a country?

Lindi: I just got, I just got chills, you know, team USA is the hardest team to make. And, you know, we're like politics aside, like putting the athletes for like, we're representing the best of us. And so that is such a high honor. And it's like how everyone carries themselves. Like when they have USA across their chest, like I take that as like such a high responsibility as well, because I'm like, I'm representing our whole country. So the way I carry myself in every interaction matters. And I'm, and I'm really glad it does. Cause I'm like, you know, the United States, like best country in the world. And I want to make sure that I reflect that.

Tarek: You walk into the stadium, it's absolutely packed.

Lindi: Yeah.

Tarek: All of the, the pomp and the ceremony and wearing the Jersey. What was going on in your mind? This is, you know, seven years after the accident. And here you are.

Lindi: Like, I just like, again, chills. Like I just had, I had no idea. Like I, I joked around and while I was in college, I was like, man, I just wish someone would pay me to work out. You know, they say, do something you love. Like if they say, if you do something you love, you'll never work a day in your life and this just makes sense. And like, and then for my life to actually be that in like, in some way, you know, um, not glamorizing the life of an athlete. Like it's, it's hard. It's hard in a lot of ways, but I just, I just felt like a dream in a different package that I, I just couldn't, I couldn't guess it. I couldn't expect it.

Tarek: I like that expression. I haven't heard that before. A dream in a different package.

Lindi: Yeah. You know, there's some people that are like born with their disabilities and like, they think about going to the Paralympics, like their whole lives, like able-bodied that as a gymnast, I was like, I am not, I am not as tough. Like I am not Olympic material. Like, like, and so, and early, like when I was in kindergarten and I wanted to go to the Olympics, my mom's like, let's not like, what are, what are families going to do? Like, that's a big sacrifice for the whole family. And like, we're just, we're not going to do that. And then to be at the Paralympics, it's just, and now I'm training for LA and to have a home games, like it just, it, it's good for me to take a step back and remember that.

Tarek: How did you do in Paris?

Lindi: I took six and a hundred and eighth and long jump.

Tarek: Impressive. And the goal here is gold medals in LA.

Lindi: Yes. Yes.

Tarek: And how has that progressing? How's your training progressing?

Lindi: Training this year is a little rough. I had to get a couple of surgeries earlier this year. Uh, cause like my, my like leg was growing back. And so like it's, it was not a bone spur, but allegedly a bone spur that was causing like an open wound that I was dealing with all of last year. And so I like made it to world championships and again, finished six in a hundred meter and eighth and long jump at worlds. And I just was like, I came in ranked third. That's what I was like, but that's where, that's where the chips landed. And so I like had surgery this year. And so this is just like a foundation year, you know, this is no major championships, like let's take the time we need to like build a foundation really big so that we can go even higher.

Tarek: And your confidence level in getting there. A hundred percent.

Lindi: I mean, I, I have a, I have a great team that I have had such a pleasure of building, you know, I have my massage therapist, you know, I have my strength coach, my head coach, like my, my therapist, you know, like I have a really, really great team physically and emotionally where, where are you in, in your process at this point?

Tarek: You're it's 2026. It's almost 10 years since the accident.

Lindi: Yeah.

Tarek: Are you fully recovered? Will you ever be fully recovered?

Lindi: I, I don't know. I feel like I like grief to me feels like a cyclical staircase and you're like climbing up it and you think you should be over it, but you like come around and you're like, you're seeing like, you're feeling the same things and you're like, so I think it's definitely gotten, I feel like the staircase has gotten wider, you know? And so I've, I've, but like, I'm not going to tell you that I don't have hard days, you know, like being an amputee, like it's definitely made it, made my life way more complicated. Like, cause I rely on someone else to walk, to like, be able to like live my life and you know, another layer on like perform.

Tarek: You say you rely on somebody else to walk. What does that mean?

Lindi: To build my prosthetic.

Tarek: Oh, I see.

Lindi: Yeah. So I know, which is like the, the funny thing is I work with the prosthetist now who made Oscar Pistorius his legs.

Tarek: Remarkable.

Lindi: Yeah. So he like, he takes great care of me. I go to Arkansas for, to see him and it just like, things are complicated. They're a little messy. Like they're hard sometimes it's frustrating.

Tarek: What's the most difficult thing for you today?

Lindi: I think the most difficult thing, uh, is still a brain injury. Like I, the way I describe it to people, it's like, I used to have 10 spoonfuls of energy and now I probably only have six and so I have to be really meticulous of like where I put my energy and like during season, it's gotta like, of course it's gotta be training. Like, I mean, it's always training, but that means that like other plates get dropped and so like, you know, like the dishes or like, you know, like the daily things, like those are like kind of hard. Like those are difficult for me to be honest.

Tarek: For those listening. I mean, this has been a fascinating conversation. If you wanted to impart one aspect of your story or, or a takeaway that you think is the most important part of your journey, what would it be?

Lindi: The one takeaway I think I would, that's a good question. I think the one takeaway I want people to apply to their lives would be to step into it. That's like, it's so funny. It's something so simple and it's become kind of like my tagline, but I think it's so applicable because if something, if you're going through a hard time, you're going to make it harder if you resist it. So like just step into it.

Tarek: And that coming from an amputee missing a leg is really, really a profound statement for all of us to think about.

Lindi: And when things are good, don't resist it. Like you deserve it. You like, you've worked for it. Step into it. And I think like, if you just, if you do that, like you will be able to experience life in a more rich way.

Tarek: People who want to follow you. Where can they do that?

Lindi: I'm on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, Lindi at Lindi Marcusen. Come hang out. I'm like, I'm always in my DMS. So come chat sponsors who want to sponsor you and support your Paralympic journey. Yeah.

Tarek: Wonderful. I can't let you leave without, I know you like gold. here is a Dallas Goldback for you.

Lindi: That's so cool. Oh my gosh. Thank you.

Tarek: You're so welcome. Lindi Marcusen. Thank you for joining us on Y'all Street.

Lindi: Thanks!

Tarek: That's the Y'all Street.