Kayla Harrison opens up about experiencing sexual abuse in brutally honest interview: "It took me years to really recover from that"
Kayla Harrison took part in a recent interview on the OverDogs Podcast, during which she spoke about numerous topics, including her horrifying ordeal with sexual abuse. As is often the case with childhood sexual abuse cases, a younger Harrison was targeted by a figure of authority, namely her first judo coach.
Fortunately, Harrison eventually revealed the abuse to her mother, which led to her former coach's imprisonment. Speaking on the incident, she said:
"I was sexually abused by my first judo coach, and when I was 16 I finally told my mom what had been happening. She pressed charges, he spent 10 years in a federal prison, so that's all good. But it took me years to really recover from that, and when I started getting some press for the Olympics, I started sharing my story."
Check out Kayla Harrison detailing the incident below (32:11):
Fortunately, the abuse that Harrison underwent did not deter her, as she went on to achieve tremendous success as an athlete. Her success in judo in the Olympics, and then her dominant run in MMA are testament to her willpower and ability.
She became a two-time PFL women's lightweight champion, authoring an impressive 15-0 record before finally tasting defeat to longtime rival Larissa Pacheco, who she had beaten twice before. Following the loss, she bounced back with a win over Aspen Ladd. It was her final fight under the PFL banner, after which she made the transition into the UFC.
Kayla Harrison has continued to achieve success in MMA
Despite being a victim of sexual assault during her childhood, Kayla Harrison remains one of the brightest stars in women's MMA. She made her UFC debut against former women's bantamweight champion Holly Holm, dominating her and submitting her with a rear-naked choke.
Check out highlights of Kayla Harrison vs. Holly Holm:
After that, she outworked a game Ketlen Vieira at UFC 307 to win via unanimous decision. The win will likely earn Harrison a crack at the 135-pound belt.