So many women are silent for personal reasons - afraid of harming children, financial harm, harming their status, and out of doubt that there is anyone who can really help them, they choose to be left alone • Paralympic swimmer Erel Halevi in a special column for the day against violence against women
Erel Halevi.
"Do not let anyone hurt you"
Photography:
orro
At the age of 11 I became disabled.
I found myself as a teenage girl struggling with rehabilitation, struggling for my independence in things that had hitherto been basic, like dressing alone.
I suffered from a negative body image and low self-esteem, and it took a long time until I could attest to myself that I am whole with who I am and feel equal on the inside.
My lesson in life and what I have learned is that while there is a disability that sometimes limits me, beyond that I must not let anyone in my external environment, and especially no fear or sound within me - limit me.
I am the one who chooses for myself who I want to be, I create for myself the privilege and the place where I can create opportunities for self-realization and surround myself with the good.
Because I deserve it, because I'm worth no less than anyone else.
Let there be no doubt - each of us deserves to be in a good place, a place where we are strong and safe.
"You used your position of power to manipulate and abuse," Olympic gymnastics winner Jamie Dencher, a 2017 Sydney Olympics bronze medalist, told a witness at the trial of American Athletics Association doctor Larry Nassar, who was accused of abusing, sexually harassing and pedophilia. Young gymnasts (Dencher was one of 156 girls who bravely testified at his trial), "You knew I was powerless, but I am here with all the other women - not victims, but survivors - to tell you face to face that your days of manipulation are over. We have a voice. "Now, the power is in our hands. You have no power over me anymore."
Unfortunately, even the sports world is not free of such terrible cases.
As a competitive Paralympic athlete for more than 15 years, the exposure of this affair shocked me deeply.
How can it be that the heads of the American Athletics Association, the coaches and even the FBI knew - and did nothing to help those athletes, who are just, in case anyone forgot, girls?
How is it possible that each of these girls was left so alone, for so long, dealing with the horrific abuse, while her teammates may have experienced the same abuse in parallel?
How strong was the feeling of shame, guilt or fear?
As a competitive swimmer who trains 12 units of training a week, I know what perseverance is, what investment in something important to me is, and so do these gymnasts.
They fight every day in the athletics hall, they are determined, strong, with a high tolerance for pain, and for the dream - the Olympics, and the fulfillment of their goals - they will do everything.
But due to the fear of paying a price, exposing the abuse and endangering their dream, they were forced to remain silent.
So many women are silent for personal reasons.
Fearing harm to children, financial harm, harm to their status, and out of doubt that there is anyone who can really help them, they choose to be left alone.
Dear girls, teenagers and women - do not be left alone with things.
Share, tell, do not be ashamed, I will not give to those who should be ashamed or in hiding.
Do not let anyone hurt you, do not let anyone tell you that you are not good enough, do not let anyone prevent you from engaging in what you love or then prevent you from doing what you deserve.
We are all strong together!
Erel Halevi is a Paralympic swimmer and Athena's ambassador
