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• Margaret Hoelzer is a swimmer for the United States Olympic team who won one bronze and two silver medals in Beijing 2008 Olympics. Hoelzer specializes in backstroke swimming style, and held the world record for women's 200 meter backstroke for a time.

  On September 15, 2008, Hoelzer revealed that she was sexually abused as a child and discussed how it continues to affect her life.IHT: US Olympic medalist goes public with sexual abuse (September 16, 2008)

• Fast Facts

  1. Born: March 30, 1983 in Huntsville, Alabama
  2. Height: 5-11
  3. Studied at Auburn University
  4. Held a world record for less than two monthsNBC: Margaret Hoelzer
  5. Won two individual medals (a silver and a bronze) and a silver group medalNBC: Margaret Hoelzer
  6. Individual medals in backstroke competitionsNBC: Margaret Hoelzer

• Sexual Abuse

  Hoelzer revealed that she was sexually abused between the ages of five and seven by a friend's father. The abuse stopped when the friend's family moved away. The medalist said that she realized what happened to her at the age of eleven, when she told her mother.IHT: US Olympic medalist goes public with sexual abuse (September 16, 2008)

  Hoelzer said that she was dealing with the trauma in high-school and college and that she is still learning to cope. She decided to go public with it to help others avoid and deal with sexual abuse without shame.IHT: US Olympic medalist goes public with sexual abuse (September 16, 2008)

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