From Trauma to Triumph: A Champion's Story

Standing atop the medal podium in London at the Olympic Games this past summer, Kayla Harrison beamed as the gold medal was draped around her neck. She is the first American, male or female, to bring home top honors for the United States in judo at the 78kg division. But it was a dream come true that almost never happened.

When Kayla was 13 years old, her former judo coach molested her.  After several years, she was able to find the strength to tell someone what had happened; her former coach is now serving a 10 year sentence. With her trust broken, Kayla considered quitting judo–but her love for the sport prevailed. “There are always ups and downs during your career, but it’s what you do in your downs, that defines who you are in your ups,” the 22-year-old explains. 

Kayla’s friends and family rallied around her to give the teenager strength during this difficult time. She relocated from her home state of Ohio to train in Massachusetts with her current coach, former Olympian Jimmy Pedro. “I heal every day, little by little,” Kayla says. “My advice to others who have experienced similar trauma is to surround yourself with people who support you, who will be there for you when you feel like you can’t go on.” 

Her victory in London has propelled Kayla into the national spotlight, giving her a taste of stardom that she never imagined. The attention, Kayla admits, is intimidating. “My greatest worry now is that I’m a role model; it’s an honor, and I just want to make sure that everything fans see me do is something positive that is going to make a difference,” she reveals. 

In January, Kayla will be back in the gym training to defend her title at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. She has ambitious plans to also write a book, start a foundation to help victims of sexual abuse and marry her fiancé, Aaron. Kayla is an example that there is life after trauma: “You are only a victim if you allow yourself to be one; no matter how dark things seem, there will be a day when you can stand up for yourself and choose to move on.”

–Lindsay Putnam