Tuesday, February 14, 2006

Olympic Star Carries Flag for All Sexual Abuse Survivors



Witty Carries Flag for Sexual Abuse Victims
New York Post - Feb. 10, 2006
Chris Witty, a five-time Olympian and three-time medallist, is unburdened of the dirty secret of her childhood and courageously encouraging victims of sexual abuse to break their silence.


Witty's Legacy as Childhood Abuse Victim Underscores Need for Awareness
Christian Wire Service - Feb. 13, 2006
When the American athletic contingent entered the Olympic stadium in Torino, Italy, Friday for the opening ceremonies of the Winter Games, speed skater Chris Witty, a five-time Olympian and three-time medallist, carried the flag for her country. That honor would have been enough to put a big smile on Witty’s face, but this smile went soul-deep as she has shed an old burden the pain of childhood sexual abuse.

Witty has gone public with her story so that she can help bring awareness of and healing for a socially stigmatizing epidemic. She is no longer depressed or suffering from low self-esteem, the common plague of those who have been victimized by sexual abuse in childhood. At the age of 11, she gained the courage through a school awareness program to answer "No" to her perpetrator, a trusted neighbor, when he prepared to violate her yet again.


Telling of abuse
Newsday - Feb. 10, 2006
URIN, Italy -- Chris Witty's designation as U.S. flag-bearer in tonight's Opening Ceremonies guaranteed dramatically higher visibility in her decision to "break the silence" about the sexual abuse she suffered as a child.

A fifth-time Olympian - four times at the Winter Games in speed skating and once in the Summer Games as a cyclist - the 31-year-old Witty pronounced herself "thrilled by the honor" bestowed on her by a vote of her 210 American teammates to lead them in the traditional parade of nations. "Just to be a part of this team is an honor," she said.

1 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

This is so cool! Thanks for bringing it to my attention.

I wonder how many other olympic stars are also survivors?

February 15, 2006 10:49 AM  

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