Survivor Gold

[blairmacg]

At twelve years old, Kayla Harrison was a champion on the judo tournament scene. She was also sexually abused by her judo instructor for the next four years.

Her parents pushed her to remain in judo, with a new coach, to use the sport and its core tenents to build a life after the abuse. Even when those in the sport pulled the "Maybe she led him on," shit, she kept because those around her wouldn't let her quit.

Kayla never wanted to be "the champion who had once been abused." But when everything was going down around Penn State, she began coming out more about her own past. 

She now holds the first USA Olympic gold medal for women's judo.  Watch it happen.

Kayla. Is. Awesome.

Comments

[safewrite.livejournal.com]

That was amazing. Thanks for sharing the video since I missed Kayla's event. And I did not know about her background. As an abuse survivor who is very vocal about victims not needing to cower in shame, her story resonates with me. I am thrilled.

[blairmacg.livejournal.com]

She will also be doing interviews with Black Belt Magazine, so I'll be certain to link to it when those articles come out, too!
I think there is something on NPR's site as well.