Not being a big Olympics fan I was totally unaware of American Award-Winning Swimmer John-Michael Lander. However it was not his sports achievements that brought him to Queerguru’s attention but the sexual abuse he suffered that started when he was 14 years old, and the fact that his own mother was complicit with. No story of childhood sexual or physical abuse is easy to hear, but this particularly one makes you sick to the stomach.
Lander not only survived, but his experiences empowered him to help others that may be faced with similar situations. He’s now a certified trainer and life coach for other survivors and continues to share his story through TED Talks and books, and though Lander’s trauma has taken away his Olympian dreams, he’s living a different dream: Helping other survivors.
“I just want everyone to know you’re not alone,” said Lander. “The more we speak about it, the more everybody hears, the more we can make changes.’
Take time to watch Lander tell his story on this video . It will really anger you, fill you with despair, but by the end you will so admire both his story of survival and also his determination to now focus helping others. It finishes on such an inspiring and positive note and one that so needs to be shared.
Labels: 2024, abuse victim, John-Michael Lander, Olympic Champion, survivor
