My bff in school told me about what was happening to me. I thought it was normal, "all families do this" My friend told me NO, what is happening to you is wrong! This how I learn what abuse was and I thank her for the rest of my life for showing how stand up foe ME!!

Survivors feel a need to prove worth, so we overachieve. Watch the overachievers.

I was also abused. By multiple men, it took me years to get help. Now that I am, I’m trying to be whole. I’m getting there and grateful to my therapist

It's always somebody that you know and trust.

Strong articulated Testimony (Great Mum)

Thank you for your story.. You did a great job portraying the perpetrator as someone who was part of the children's play group, putting himself in direct contact with the children he would abuse.. Sadly, he most likely continued in this behavior in his new neighborhood.. And the 'trust' that he had as a 'friend' of the family allowed this to happen because as a child you don't question a trusted family friend. Kudos to your mother!! Who showed tremendous love and support, validating you and getting you the help you needed to deal with this abuse.. I believe that is why you never transcended down the slippery slope of prostitution, trafficking, drug abuse and unhealthy relationships.. Because your wise mother was always there for you, supporting and validating you! We need to teach our children the difference between good and 'bad' touch, and tell them to report any 'bad' touch no matter who the person is.. Our children are so trusting, and this is what facilitates abuse.

Not everyone has a team, some families continue to blame and scapegoat the survivor.

Her mother was great

Margaret Hoelzer, thank you for being so open about your abuse. Hearing your story has helped me trust more that developing coping skills can actually help to accomplish a healthier sense of self-value and being.

So hard to watch. I was a victim of a pedophile. I didn't tell anyone for 20 years. I never healed. I did the opposite, I retreated into the shadows. I'm a wallflower. I cant stand to be touched by anyone but my partner. Not even my friends or family. It changes you forever. I often wonder who I would have been if he never existed

The reason Margaret didn't show thr "typical" side effects of abuse...she had loving parents who supported & accepted her. They sought help for their daughter. Amazing daughter, parents, family.

it even happens to Olympians wow I'm so happy she is able to tell her story, thank you

This *almost* happened to me…I went to a friends for a play date all the time and he would join the games…one day he was tickling me (which I thought was normal) but then he licked my foot..I was made so uncomfortable that I stopped hanging out with the girl completely. Years later I told my parents but I’m really lucky now that I hear this story. Thank you for sharing

One of my friends told me and a few other friends at age 11 that a guy who worked in her mums store was touching her in the back of the store. We helped her to tell a trusted teacher, who then called her mum to come in and they helped her mum contact the police. Our teacher believed her as we had met this guy before and I got a weird vibe and I'd only met him for 5 mins. Her mum believed her. She was so grateful to everyone who helped her.

I was never believed and the shame is still with me today, it represses you if you’re parents don’t validate you. I’m over protective of my son’s, I’ll carry this for life 💕

You know, I'm not a parent, but the mom's reaction blows my mind. To listen to the entire situation and not lose her cool must have taken so much strength. I think it would "set the stage" for her daughter to be able to speak about it later without feeling ashamed. I'm sorry the legal system failed, he should be punished appropriately for crushing the innocence of a child.

Thank you for sharing your story and speaking from the heart and your wisdom.

Brave lady hope your life is full of joy forever ❤️❤️❤️

I'm so glad your parents believed you and sounded like awesome caring parents that looked after YOU. I was never sexually abused but I had other abuse as a kid. However I've always been vigilant with my kids as I know that there are child molesters out there and they can be anyone. My kids know they can tell me anything. I've drummed that into them and thankfully none of them have had any kind of abuse. Parents and adults need to believe their kids.

Educate your children and start early.

I thank God for,your family. Your mom handling you the way she did. Exactly the person you needed. I’m So proud of you and I don’t even know you

OMG, is this the Beijing backstroke medallist, Margaret Hoelzer???

She had a very good Mom, a very sensible Mom.

Thankyou no parent support only enablers to my abuse I'm now 62 never recover as father in 90s still thinks ok no justice no accountability makes it harder to move on regards from australia

I to was abused......i have also healed :) thank you for sharing your story...

Parents trust people too much. They don't think that abuser are very manipulatives and seem to be kind and harmless but they are not. The best thing to do is not to permit young childrento visit other homes.

This is alot of information that many need to hear

Thank you so much for sharing your story

Thanks for your inspired testimony,truth and story of a well lived life in ultimate love,honor hope and fortitude that will teach us all so much in our own future for our loved ones!

God Bless you for sharing this story with others , as most people don't think it happens to men , it only happens to women . I myself was date raped at the age of 15 . I asked him to stop but he just continued . We were in his family barn loft . When he was finished he said he had to go in his house for something. There was a open window in the barn that faced the back door to his house . As time went on , I sat up in the loft crying and wondering what just happened , and when was he coming back. It was winter and it had started snowing, and I knew I better get back to my bothers girlfriends house at the time, as she lived out of town and about two blocks from where my date lived . When I got there I went to the washroom and noticed that I was bleeding so I call his girl friend into the bathroom and told her I had to go to the hospital. I said to her what had happened and that I was bleeding. She then proceeded to tell me that from now on I would bleed every month and to make sure I didn't get pregnant I should take cod liver oil or jump around a lot . I had no cod liver oil but loved gym so ever time we did something that I had to jump down from , I made a point to jump extra hard . I think it was a little over a month when I went to the washroom and felt something different . I recall looking before I flushed and I saw what looked to me like a small fetus so I breathed a sense of relieve at the time that now one would know I had gotten pregnant . I'm now 63 and was never able to have children . To this day I wonder what would of happened if I had told my brother instead of his girlfriend , and maybe he might of made sure I went to the hospital , and things would of turned out different in my life . Wow can't believe I shared all that for the first time , yet maybe it might help someone else. God Bless you All .

Margaret - thank you for sharing your story. You are an incredible inspiration and hearing your experience and how you responded, how your family responded is really helpful and hopeful. You demonstrate such poise and beauty. Thank you for being an advocate for others who need it.

I remember seeing you swim backstroke for the first time when you were about 8. You were so gifted.

YOUR ARE AWSOME THANK YOU FOR SHARING FOR THE HELP OF OTHERS.

Such an awesome realization!!! It takes many to help us get healthy.

Margaret it has been almost eight years since you told your story of abuse. Congratulations on all you have achieved in your swimming career. I just want to give you some hope for your future. I went theough Santanic Ritual Abuse from my birth until ten. Even though bits and pieces came out from my 40's to 60's my multiple personalities never surfaced until I was 68. I was diagnosed DID/SRA. I have been happily married for 53 years, and I have two wonderful daughters. Our families have been on vacation together for the past two weeks. If I died today there isn't one thing I have missed in this life. May you be blessed in all you do, and may you tind the peace and value in who you are, and not what was done to you.

I’m a 54-year-old guy who, at 15, spent 4 months on a psychiatric ward. I was the only boy, amongst 5 other girls (and other adults) when I arrived. My reason for being there had nothing to do with sexual abuse, but for some there (including a girl on another ward whom I also befriended) it was. I learned to care for all them, and they loved having me there from the moment I showed up. But the whole experience did something to me that I wouldn’t fully understand, until later in life when I had my spiritual awakening at 45. I eventually sought out a dear friend from that place, whose last name I still remembered, and I found her! While inadvertently triggering her awakening in the process. Long story short, we have remained in touch ever since (10 years now!). She is a scientist, yes, a scientist! She had overcome her demons and got into science in her late 20s. I tell this story for any survivors out there. You are loved, and you can thrive!!! ♥️🙏🏻✌️

Happy for you your parents were super supportive, and it is still difficult. What about all the people who were even abused more when they came out....

Thank you:)

i appreciate your story so m

I love the way you ask for help and support. Just ask xxx

This happened to me aswell I'm 44 bearly working thru it so awful

Very nice young lady. Like her attitude very much.

My sister in law recently told me that there was a ring in Northern California that was watching girls coming in and out of the mall. And then marking their cars apparently so predators would follow and find out where they live etc. So make your kids go places in groups and watch out for each other.

I believe in you its bout overcoming your struggles an learning helping another i support you.

Good advise. Thank you for sharing & your mom handled it well by listening. I am going through different personal stuff & keeping much of it inside, but the way you describe having help, maybe I will do more to expand my "team". You are inspiring & also very pretty- such a radiant smile!

something similar to this happen to me as well and I never told anyone. I felt shame I couldn't tell why I felt shame all I knew was that that was wrong. it happened to me when I was 5 and I didn't tell anyone until I was 12 almost 13 about what had happened to me. One day I just couldn't take it anymore and told one of my teachers after reading a book about something similar. you are very lucky, your parents took you to therapy. My parents never did, we come from a very traditional family where you don't share your family problems with anyone. So here I am at 27 years old and still struggling with all of this. When I was 12 the police were informed of course, but because of the statute of limitations they were unable to do anything. And yes I know completely what you mean by feeling that the legal system failed you. It's very hard to accept, but I am happy you got help and your parents were so supportive.

thanks for sharing your story.... sharing on SEASCAT.org's FB page. Connie, founder of SEASCAT.org.

Thanks for sharing, it helps. It happened to me too 😵‍💫

I have been saying for years they should never have taken sex education out of schools there would be less teen pregnancy, venereal diseases......

Bless you Beautiful Hero

So sorry Margaret but what wonderful parents you have 🙂

Parents need to talk openly about private parts and sex and the creepiness in some men. Open dialogue is key. If you make it ok to talk about things it may help kids speak up...Also am I the only mom that straight up asks my kid if they’ve ever felt uncomfortable around people they are around all the time? “Trusting” someone isn’t an excuse-I believe parents should be prosecuted for not protecting their children...and letting them be alone with men they trust or don’t trust.

Your success is to your good parents 100% khudos to them not to the victimizer.. Even if your mother had dismissed you that faithful day when you talk to her it would have been different story..

Many of us dont have a team to be encouraged in life or to get over this....some of them, like me, dont even have had, have ONE person EVER),- specifically if you are an orphan....and 'normal' friends you are the only one depended on. But most of 'strangers'-friends....dont really care of course....everyone almost is surviving....

So many, many women have these stories. As do I. What a sick society we are, our children are not safe anywhere, not even in their own homes. Not at school. We are preyed on, everywhere. I was molested from as early as I can remember. And when my sick, sadistic father saw that I was big enough to fight back, he threw me out into the street, at barely 15. A child. He threw me to the other predators. It was horrific. And the worst part? It's a typical American girl story. This is how baby prostitutes are made, in the home. There's something wrong with a lot of our men. They lust after children. It's sick. And we're not addressing it, we're not dealing with it. Instead of teaching children about sexual...preferences, why aren't we teaching them what is healthy, and what is harmful? Teach boys, before they become men, that to be sexually attracted to children is sick, and they need help. Then supply that help.

Your mom is AWSOME !

You are so lucky that the creep moved away, because its members of your Family, and Neighbour who usually murder too shut one up...Your Angel 😇 was protecting you....

Thank you for telling your story. You can’t blame your mom for trying IMO, she wasn’t a professional counselor. May God Bless you through the Lord Jesus Christ ❤️

May God protects you always dear Margaret, lots of Blessings!!! 😃

I have been in counseling for many years. I was in the military for three years. I experienced MST. The military is a man's world. when a woman soldier was molested you do not report it to the higher up.Usually you are not believed. That was the way it was in the foster home. You just suffered

That's why I don't let my child go to playdates without me looking at all times. I do not allow sleeping over as well. You never know. We as parents have to educate them since an early age, tell them it is wrong someone, children or adult touching them inappropriately. They have to know to understand what is going on. I am glad schools give lots of orientation as well but we parents should do it since they are 2 and a half, 3 years old. It's vital for them to understand about this kind of stuff. There are evil everywhere posing as good people.

I was abuse by the baby sitters son from 7 years old tell I was 11 . My mom never believe me told me not 2 tell my dad . I use to have 2 go there before school and after school 6 weeks holidays right up till I was old inuff to walk back and from school. Hated going there use 2 wet myself so I didn't have 2 go upstairs 2 the toilet cause I know he would call me in 2 his room . And I got beating for wetting myself over 40 years still have effect on me xx

I was molested in my third foster home who ended up adopted me and my brother. My foster mother and her brother molested me and abusive in everyway. I was whipped with a cat of 9 tails. No one would listen.They took me from my mama where I was safe.My dad deserted us. Never supported us. Mama had to work two jobs and my Aunt watched all of us. My dad placed of us with other family members. My older brother and I were put up for adoption. My mama divorced him for non support and desertion. I lived with my mama untio I was about 8and my brother was 10. There were two sisters I thought were my cousins. I did not know who my father until Ancestry. When my dad left my mama he met someone else and started a new family. He never talked about us.All that started my PTSD . From then on there was continued trauma

Teamwork.

Communicating the truth helps everyone. If something doesn't feel right is usually isn't. It is okay to tell others no matter who the person is that is doing the harmful action. And it does not have to define you. There is aberration (crocked lines) in the character of some people not all people. We are now living in a time where the predators of these crimes are on watch by the whole world Child abuse and sex trafficking has been allowed to expand beyond imagination and the criminals are getting paid a lot of money for the sale of a body. I read a report that some young girls are being sold for 100,000 thousand dollars to a trafficking ring. SO PARENTS HAVE THEIR RADARS IN HIGH GEAR. It is so important for parents to be in really good communication with their kids because kids that fall out of communication with the family tend to look for admiration from others if they are not getting it at home and when they do this and drift towards strangers they are at risk. Even in their own families with friends of the family. SO PARENTS WATCH YOUR KIDS BACK ALL THE TIME.

Sorry I don,t know why it ended up showing my story 4 times . Hmmm ?

The book should be thrown at child molesters and rapist.

😭

I always have my eye on men like “that” sharing stories builds a catalyst for change…… Not all juvenile men are predators

5 seems to be a big danger age terrifying

Good girl!

Pedophiles should be left in the general population in prison.

UNTIL YOU MOURN YOUR LOSSES YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO OBJECTIFY WHO AND WHAT YOUR ABUSES ARE AND WHO YOU WERE AND ARE THAT YOU CAN LET GO OF THEM AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOURSELF. FORGIVENESS DOES NOT MEAN I ACCEPT WHAT MY ABUSERS DID. IT MEANS I HAVE QUIT TRYING TO MAKE SENSE OF THE

Jesus bless u sweetheart ...love u sweetheart welcome

A?

no family, no close caring friends, ONLY GOD!!!!

Yay I’m the 800 like

Dark times are approaching. You will see things you’ve never seen before. You’re only safety is in Jesus. He’s Gods Son and He loves you very much. To get saved, confess your sins and repent and ask Jesus to forgive all your sins and come into your life and save you. Put your faith in Jesus. Realize that God raised him from the dead. Confess Jesus is Lord with your mouth and believe it in your heart and you will be saved.💕

Secret whole societies

!p

whoops

ridiculous and distasteful music

This woman is annoying. How is it she thinks another 11 year old cannot know inappropriate if a school class didn’t tell them. That’s stupid.

Thank you Margaret, and everyone that has shared their stories. I hope you are learning to live your life the way you want it. I'm posing this message to answer any questions anyone might have. I'm going to put myself out there. I'm not a victim, I'm an abuser. I sexually abused a young girl. I was arrested and jailed for this. I served my time and have been going through years of counselling to learn to live an offense-free life. I've been formally diagnosed with pedohebephilia, meaning I was born sexually attracted to girls age 13 and younger (the diagnosis involves what's called "phallometric testing". If you want to know more I'll explain, though the name kind of tells it all). I can't "fix" what I did nor can I fix what happened to you, but I'm trying to do what I can to help. Maybe I can share something that will prevent some young boy or girl from being a victim in the first place. As such, I will do what I can to answer any questions anyone might have in the most honest manner I can.

God Bless you for sharing this story with others , as most people don't think it happens to men , it only happens to women . I myself was date raped at the age of 15 . I asked him to stop but he just continued . We were in his family barn loft . When he was finished he said he had to go in his house for something. There was a open window in the barn that faced the back door to his house . As time went on , I sat up in the loft crying and wondering what just happened , and when was he coming back. It was winter and it had started snowing, and I knew I better get back to my bothers girlfriends house at the time, as she lived out of town and about two blocks from where my date lived . When I got there I went to the washroom and noticed that I was bleeding so I call his girl friend into the bathroom and told her I had to go to the hospital. I said to her what had happened and that I was bleeding. She then proceeded to tell me that from now on I would bleed every month and to make sure I didn't get pregnant I should take cod liver oil or jump around a lot . I had no cod liver oil but loved gym so ever time we did something that I had to jump down from , I made a point to jump extra hard . I think it was a little over a month when I went to the washroom and felt something different . I recall looking before I flushed and I saw what looked to me like a small fetus so I breathed a sense of relieve at the time that now one would know I had gotten pregnant . I'm now 63 and was never able to have children . To this day I wonder what would of happened if I had told my brother instead of his girlfriend , and maybe he might of made sure I went to the hospital , and things would of turned out different in my life . Wow can't believe I shared all that for the first time , yet maybe it might help someone else. God Bless you All .

Sorry I don,t know why it ended up showing my story 4 times . Hmmm ?