Abused

Surviving Sexual Assault and a Toxic Gymnastics Culture

De: Rachel Haines

Narrado por: Stacey Glemboski

Bloomsbury presents Abused by Rachel Haines, read by Stacey Glemboski.

Two-year-old Rachel Haines didn’t know that she would be committing to twenty-one years of hard work, dedication, and perseverance as she jumped into the foam pit during her first “mommy and me” gymnastics class. She had no idea that one day she would become a two-time National Team Member, two-time National Champion, and a Division I college gymnast at the University of Minnesota. Nor could she have known that she had just signed herself up for serious injury, emotional distress, and continuous sexual assault by world-renowned trainer turned serial molester, Larry Nassar.

In Abused: Surviving Sexual Assault and a Toxic Gymnastics Culture, Rachel details her experiences as a competitive gymnast and the painful realities of being one of Nassar’s many victims. With honesty and candidness, Rachel shares how the sport she loved that gave her so much—friendships, accomplishments, a college education—is also tangled in a dangerously toxic culture that needs to be fixed. In a world that was setting her up for a lifetime of recovery, she tells how faith, family, and an army of survivors made healing possible.

©2019 Rachel Haines (P)2019 Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

Reseñas de la Crítica

I just read the whole book in one sitting and it moved me to tears. As a fellow gymnast who has gone through the entire USA Gymnastics Program (level 3 through the Olympics and NCAA), there were numerous instances when Rachel describes life as a student-athlete that I could 100% relate to. Her attention to detail can almost make you, the reader, feel her pain, both physically and emotionally. This memoir is an emotional deep-dive into what can happen "behind-the-scenes" of gymnastics, and while every gymnast's career is completely unique to them, the overall culture of USA Gymnastics that we've seen up to this point HAS TO CHANGE in order for this to NEVER happen again. I stand with all of the survivors and hope they are all finding their paths toward healing. You are so incredibly strong. (Corrie Lothrop, 2008 U.S. Olympic team member and University of Utah gymnastics alumna)

I could not put this book down for a moment. As a fellow retired gymnast and teammate of Rachel’s, this book hits home because of the honesty with which she tells her story. Rachel courageously confronts her experience with convicted sexual offender Larry Nassar and the abuse of power within the sport. At the same time, she acknowledges the lessons she learned and wrestles with her overall feelings towards gymnastics, something all former gymnasts must do. This is a must-read that will make you cry, laugh, and most importantly... think. (Bailey Abernathy, University of Minnesota Gymnastics alumna)

The cover reads “abused” but when you read the contents you’ll learn Rachel Haines is “unbreakable.” While others might fold in the face of career-altering injuries and continuous abuse, Haines never backed down. From the first word to the closing sentiments, you are invited to relive her most vulnerable moments and heal along with her. An empowering story from a warrior of an author, this is a must-read for young athletes and women everywhere. (Morgan Short, co-author, Splintered Souls: An Anthology of Poems)

This book is a powerful reflection of Rachel’s challenges in the gymnastics world. Knowing Rachel for years, I never would have guessed the pain she has experienced. She continues to be a strong and positive individual, and I commend her for coming forward with her story. This is a must-read that will bring you to tears of both heartbreak for her hardships and joy for her growth along the way. (Liz VanderLaan, Boston College, Masters of Social Work)