• Video
  • Shop
  • Culture
  • Family
  • Wellness
  • Food
  • Living
  • Style
  • Travel
  • News
  • Book Club
  • GMA3: WYNTK
  • Newsletter
  • Privacy Policy
  • Your US State Privacy Rights
  • Children's Online Privacy Policy
  • Interest-Based Ads
  • Terms of Use
  • Do Not Sell My Info
  • Contact Us
  • © 2025 ABC News
  • Living

Teen paralyzed in gymnastics accident takes 1st steps in years to walk graduation stage

1:00
Teen takes 1st steps in years to receive diploma
Pure in Art Photography
Catherine Thorbecke
ByCatherine Thorbecke
May 29, 2019, 8:08 AM

A high school student from Kansas who's paralyzed from the waist down took her first steps in years, across the graduation stage to receive her diploma in a moment that had the whole stadium in tears.

Anna Sarol, 18, from Kansas City, rose to her feet with the help of a walker, braces and her siblings at her graduation ceremony Olathe Northwest High School on May 19 -- almost four years after a gymnastics accident following a fall on the uneven bars left her confined to a wheelchair.

"I told my family we are going to stand up, I don't care if the people behind us can't see, but I didn't realize it would be a standing ovation, the whole stadium was standing," Louicee Sarol, Anna's mom, told "Good Morning America."

Anna Sarol walked for the first time in years across her graduation stage with the help of her siblings, pictured here.
Pure in Art Photography

Related Articles

(MORE: 4-year-old girl with spina bifida walks for first time as her friends cheer her on)

Louicee Sarol said that she is "very, very proud of Anna" and the strength she has shown since the accident.

"From a mother's perspective, it hurts to see your child like this, but she is my strength," she said. "Here is my Anna -- yes, she can't walk, but she is inspiring people."

"The only time I saw Anna cry when was when she was hurting," her mom said. "She couldn't get up, and she didn't realize until a day after the surgery that she was paralyzed."

Still, she added, "Her attitude was, 'Life goes on, it could be worse.'"

Seeing her daughter walk for the first time in years was "just the best feeling," Louicee Sarol said.

"Everybody, almost the whole stadium, was crying," she added. "I looked back and parents are in tears of joy, all for Anna."

Anna Sarol walked for the first time in years across her graduation stage to receive her diploma.
Pure in Art Photography

Anna Sarol said that almost immediately after the injury four years ago, "I made a promise to myself that I'll be determined to walk the grad stage, if I could walk at that point."

Related Articles

(MORE: 'Baby Shark' song helps 2-year-old girl with spina bifida learn to walk)

She said she practiced with the help of her brothers and sisters, but when the day came came she admits she was nervous.

"I was very nervous, very anxious about the whole situation because my classmates haven't seen me walk since freshman year," she said.

"I could hear the whole crowd, and I looked up and I saw everybody on their feet, including everyone in the stadium and everyone in my class," she said. "They all knew how hard I had been working towards this for the past couple of years."

She described the feeling as "just incredible."

After her walk, Anna Sarol said she had "so many people come up to me and say, 'We don't know you, but we've been following your journey, and we were all crying.'"

After finishing up high school, she said she hopes to become a motivational speaker, and is already sharing inspirational stories on her website and Facebook page, Pray for Annaboo.

She is also currently raising money for a prosthetic exosekeleton so that she can be able to walk again on her own.

Anna Sarol walked for the first time in years across her graduation stage to receive her diploma.
Pure in Art Photography

Up Next in Living—

Summer solstice 2025: When is the 1st day of summer?

June 16, 2025

June's full strawberry moon: See photos and what it means for your zodiac

June 11, 2025

High school athlete somersaults to track and field championship win

June 10, 2025

Michaels buys Joann brand, plans to expand crafting supply to meet demand

June 6, 2025

Shop GMA Favorites

ABC will receive a commission for purchases made through these links.

Sponsored Content by Taboola

The latest lifestyle and entertainment news and inspiration for how to live your best life - all from Good Morning America.
  • Contests
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Do Not Sell My Info
  • Children’s Online Privacy Policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Your US State Privacy Rights
  • Interest-Based Ads
  • About Nielsen Measurement
  • Press
  • Feedback
  • Shop FAQs
  • ABC News
  • ABC
  • All Videos
  • All Topics
  • Sitemap

© 2025 ABC News
  • Privacy Policy— 
  • Your US State Privacy Rights— 
  • Children's Online Privacy Policy— 
  • Interest-Based Ads— 
  • Terms of Use— 
  • Do Not Sell My Info— 
  • Contact Us— 

© 2025 ABC News