Margaret Hoelzer, a swimmer who won three Beijing Olympic medals, came out of the closet to disclose her sexual abuse background. Margaret Hoelzer, 25, had her childhood in Huntsville, Alabama.

Margaret Hoelzer was five years old when she was sexually abused by a playmate’s father. Hoelzer and her mother estimated the abuse carried on for about two years until that family moved away. Margaret Hoelzer had stayed overnight at her friend’s house. At five years old, Margaret Hoelzer did not understand it was wrong to get abused. She felt uncomfortable when her friend’s father molested her.

When Margaret Hoelzer was 11 years old, her best friend and herself were talking about experiences when Hoelzer revealed her past. The friend, who was more streetwise, told Hoelzer to tell her Mom. The molester was arrested but no formal charges were filed and eventually, the molester got off free. Today, Margaret Hoelzer struggles with issues like trust and romantic relationships.

Please click here for more recent posts.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, September 16th, 2008 at 5:41 pm and is filed under Sports.