Puerto Rican Athlete Suffers Epileptic Seizure During Live TV Broadcast
Puerto Rican athlete Melanie Valdés Reyes suffered an epileptic seizure during a live TV broadcast. Known for marathon racing in a wheelchair, she shared the footage to raise awareness about epilepsy.
Puerto Rican Paralympic athlete Melanie Valdés Reyes suffered an epileptic seizure during a live broadcast on the morning show NotiCentro al Amanecer on WAPA channel. Valdés Reyes, known by the nickname "La Chica de las Alas", was speaking with presenters Yizette Cifredo and George Halffy last week when she began to experience the seizure.
Sharing the Reality of Epilepsy
After recovering, Valdés Reyes posted the footage of the incident on Instagram, explaining that she wanted her followers to understand the medical condition she deals with every day. "It is very hard for me to see myself like this. I want to share with you this small part of my life, so you can see and understand a little more about this condition," she wrote. She added that she felt well, managed to continue the interview, and thanked the show's team for allowing her to tell her story.
"It is very hard for me to see myself like this. I want to share with you this small part of my life, so you can see and understand a little more about this condition," wrote Melanie Valdés Reyes.
Valdés Reyes has been dealing with epilepsy for over a decade, which causes recurring seizures and eventually affected the mobility of her legs. Due to her condition, she had to stop her medical ultrasound studies and leave her job as a cashier. According to her, many of her followers were unaware that she was dealing with the illness, prompting her to publish the video to raise awareness about epilepsy.
Athletic Achievements and World Record Goals
Valdés Reyes, a resident of Bayamón, Puerto Rico, participates in races and marathons using her regular wheelchair rather than a specialized racing model. She began training on a doctor's recommendation to maintain mobility and strengthen her body. What started as part of her rehabilitation process turned into a regular athletic pursuit, leading her to compete in distances of 5, 10, 21, and 42 kilometers.
In December 2024, she completed two races on the same day for a total distance of 52 kilometers over more than eight hours, and she also finished the grueling Lola Challenge. Valdés Reyes is now attempting to set a Guinness World Record for the greatest distance covered in a wheelchair in 12 hours. Her goal is to break the record held by British athlete Lexie Chambers, which stands at 77.20 kilometers, and reach a distance of approximately 88 kilometers.
