Victoria Arlen was born on September 26, 1994, in Exeter, New Hampshire, one of triplets. At age 11, she developed transverse myelitis and acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, conditions that caused years of paralysis. She resumed swimming during recovery and won a gold and three silver medals at the 2012 Paralympics. She learned to walk again in 2016 after nearly a decade using a wheelchair.

In December 2015, at age 20, Arlen joined ESPN as a features reporter. She went on to host SportsCenter, SportsNation, and Hoop Streams. She also filled in on First Take and reported from the X Games, Invictus Games, ESPYs, and Frozen Four. In 2017, she competed on Dancing with the Stars, reaching the semi-finals.

In 2020, Arlen became a co-host of American Ninja Warrior Junior on NBC and Peacock. As of 2026, she continues to host SportsCenter across ESPN’s platforms and contributes to major event coverage. Beyond her television career, she leads Victoria’s Victory Foundation, a nonprofit that supports people with mobility challenges. She is also a published author with two books, her 2018 memoir Locked In and The View Is Worth It, released in May 2026.