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.
Harrison, 22, won the women’s under-78-kilogram division in London on Thursday, beating the United Kingdom’s Gemma Gibbons in the finals of a 21-woman tournament.
Harrison, a Middletown, Ohio, native training in Massachusetts, became the United States’ only Olympic champion in the sport – woman or man. Ranked No. 4 in the world, she had upset top-ranked Brazilian Mayra Aguiar in the semifinals.
She started judo at roughly age 7. But to get to this point, she has said, she needed to overcome sexual abuse – starting at age 13 – by the person who was then coaching her.
“When I was 16, I told a close friend of mine, who immediately told my mother, and she immediately went to the police and pressed charges. The FBI got involved, and he’s actually serving 10 years … in prison,” Harrison told CNN’s Ashleigh Banfield on July 9, weeks before the Olympics began.
“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.
Harrison said she almost dropped judo because of the abuse. She said that it was not only “hard to deal with to be normal, but also to compete in the sport.”
But she decided to stick with judo, going on to win gold at the 2008 Junior World Championships and the 2010 World Championships.
“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.
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What is going on with the olympic boxing judges?? I have watched a couple fights. To me, the more aggressive, better puncher who I thought would win, lost, and most of the on-TV commentators agree with me. This is a disgrace. Please do something before a whole olympics is tainted.
The story demonstrates what a person of character can accomplish. The woman endured abuse from a figure of authority. She overcame it and moved on – helped, I am sure by support from her mother (who acted, instead of denying) and an inner strength.
I tip my hat to her!
This is not sad, its Great! While I think CNN is Lame for having to emphasize "abuse" victim wins gold in Judo, it "is" great that she won. Very impressive. The emphasis should be on her accomplishment as a skilled martial artist, not that she was abused. Her accomplishment is outstanding; her abuse is sad, but her character and accomplishment are strong and the testament of a winner.
Only 10 years?? seriously?
It was a plea bargain, I'm sure.
Way to go gal. Keep that way steady but firm. Of corse with a smile. Too keep all persons on gaurd..
Wow. Good for her.
Wow. "Blond haired, female and slightly overweight". This young woman has worked hard for years. She is beautiful. We are all privileged to watch these wonderful young people represent their countries from the comfort of the couch. You must be an imp.
No BS political or negative comment from me. Just plain respect for what she has done. Very proud she represents America. Well done!
if I were Kayla Harrison, I wouldn't broadcast what the coach did to me.
And therein lies lies the reason why these life altering crimes continue.
She did it to try to help others that were or are being abused and are silent. She also did it to overcome the pain. There is no shame in being a victim. God some people are so weak it's sad.
Rubbish, name me one kind of abuse that you would support...if not crouching behind a keyboard.
I don't support any kind of abuse. I just doubt the veracity of that claim, as people on these boards generally pull numbers out of their behinds. What made you think I WOULD support abuse? Because I asked a valid question for a statistic I don't for one moment believe is true?
Overweight? Really? It's a bad photo, but other photos show her to be fairly slender. She's not skinny, sure, but she's not fat.
Ohio is very Proud of your determination and Hard work. You r amazing! Diane Leach. Kettering OH. Congratulations! God Bless you!
Wish NBC would show more event highlight from sports like this instead of replaying the 1996 Gymnastics team event on Friday night. Plenty of interesting events and stories to tell rather than rehashing stuff that happened 12 years ago.
Congratulatins on your victory! You triumph in life and in sport. Thank you for bringing the gold back to the USA!
This preoccupation with athletes' and celebrities abuse history is getting out of hand. Just look at CNN headline: "Abuse victim wins first U.S. judo gold". That's just sick. Does Harrison define herself as abuse victim? I doubt anybody who does would win Olympic gold.