THE GIRL WHO FIGURED IT OUT

An Indian American polio survivor explains how in 2013 she became the first female wheelchair athlete to complete an Ironman World Championship.

Born in a village near Mumbai, Dentler contracted polio before her first birthday; her legs were paralyzed. Unable to afford her care, Dentler’s loving single mother put her up for adoption. Adopted by an American couple, Dentler moved to Spokane, Washington. She endured multiple surgeries, and her adoptive parents encouraged her to achieve seemingly impossible goals, such as learning to walk with crutches and leg braces: “You can do it...Just figure it out.” But classmates sometimes excluded and taunted her because of her mobility aids and dark skin. Undaunted, Dentler grew up to accomplish much, including backpacking solo through Europe and becoming a White House intern. But ultimately, she wanted to be an athlete. After practicing handcycling, she competed in the New York City Marathon and, feeling “unstoppable,” set her sights on triathlons. Dentler tackled difficulties, such as learning to swim and adjusting to a racing wheelchair. She follows disappointments, such as being disqualified at her first Ironman attempt, with refreshingly concrete details of how she trained harder and, above all, believed in herself, punctuated by the refrain: “Just figure it out.” Ultimately, she completed an Ironman in Kona, Hawaii, swimming, biking, and running 140.6 miles. Dehennin depicts Dentler’s endeavors with bright hues and vivid expressions; fluid curves impart a sense of motion.

An uplifting ode to persistence.