Kayla Harrison says she almost quit judo because of sexual abuse by a coach. Instead, she’s now the first American to win Olympic gold in the sport. “Every day was a lie. Inside, I was in constant turmoil, but on the outside I was supposed to be this golden girl and so happy,” Harrison said
At 13 years old, Kayla's coach began sexually assaulting her. When she was 16, she told a close friend of her, who IMMEDIATELY told her mother, who IMMEDIATELY went to the police.
After a few years, Kayla decided to press charges and the FBI became involved and the coach is now serving 10 years in prison. “You get to the point where you decide that you don’t want to be a victim anymore and that you’re not going to live your life like that,” she said.
She wasn't always so strong. She wrote in her journal, "I hate my life" and wanted to quit the sport that brought back so many memories of the abuse. But she persevered going on to win gold at the 2008 Junior World Championships and the 2010 World Championships.
"It changes your life, something like that, it's hard to deal with, you know, just being "normal"...but also to compete in a sport that basically changed my life becuase of him, it was a struggle for a long time."
Kayla Harrison - Victim, Survivor, Thriver, Olympic Gold Medal Winner - thank you for sharing your story and for being an inspiration to so many.