US Olympic champion Amy Van Dyken opens up on how Charlie Kirk’s assassination pushed her to change everything

Amy Van Dyken, a six-time Olympic gold medalist, has shared how the assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk changed her life forever. Kirk was shot and killed on September 10, 2025, while speaking on stage at Utah Valley University in Utah.

Around 3,000 people were present at the event when the shooting happened.Kirk was known across the US for co-founding Turning Point USA in 2012 and for his strong conservative views. His death shocked the country and started wide talks about political violence. Now, Van Dyken has spoken openly about how witnessing that moment deeply affected her personal life.Posting on Instagram, Van Dyken said, “I wanted to tell you something.

September 10th, 2025, completely changed my life.” She explained that she saw a man who enjoyed sharing ideas and debating others get killed in front of a large crowd. She said she quickly reached out to friends who also knew Kirk. One message she received back stayed with her: “Lots of blood, please pray.”

Amy Van Dyken Shares How Charlie Kirk’s Death Changed Her Faith and Outlook

She added that she now goes to church every Sunday, reads her Bible every day, and listens to worship music instead of secular music. According to Van Dyken, these changes helped her feel calmer. She said she is now less anxious and less angry.The former swimmer said she had been quiet for some time and wanted people to understand why. “I just wanted to let you guys know what has been going on in my life since I’ve been so quiet,” she wrote.

“That day completely changed my life forever.”She also shared a message for Kirk’s family. “I just want to say to Charlie, Erika, and their entire family: I’m so sorry for your loss,” Van Dyken said. She thanked Kirk for standing firm in what he believed and added, “Please be kind to yourself. Please be kind to others. God bless every one of you.”Van Dyken had earlier spoken about Kirk’s death on X just days after the shooting.

She said her church mentioned Kirk during service and described the moment as powerful.Amy Van Dyken is one of the most decorated swimmers in US history. She won four gold medals at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and two more at the 2000 Sydney Games. In 2014, she was left paralyzed from the waist down after a serious ATV accident.Meanwhile, a Utah man named Tyler Robinson has been charged in connection with Charlie Kirk’s murder and appeared at his first in-person court hearing last week.Also Read: Tyson Fury And Paris Fury Combined Net Worth In 2025: Boxing Career, Earnings, Business, Family, And More