Miranda Heckman | 5x State Champion Swimmer
My story is one that needs to be told over a 2 hour long coffee shop chat. However, here is what I’ve been through, what I’ve learned from it, how I overcame it, and how I used my story to my advantage. I swam competitively on a swim team for 8 years. Throughout that time the team culture rapidly degraded me and became severely toxic. My last three years in high school however, were the years of my worst nightmare. During that time I was physically, verbally, sexually, and emotionally abused by both my head coach and my teammates. I was referred to as an “IT” instead of by my name. I was told by my coach “you used to be worth something, you used to be fast”. I was told I would never surmount to anything. I was told if I spoke out about the abuse that my coach would end my swim career. I was groped and I was scratched.
There are too many stories and too many deep memories I can recall. But the memories I choose to share aren’t to receive sympathy from others, but for me to empathize with those that have been hurt in their sport as well. I have learned independence, authenticity, and perseverance through my struggles. I have discovered who I want to be like, and held my head up around those that I don’t. Thanks to my past, I am able to be an advocate for those in toxic situations in athletics. I refuse to hide, I refuse to stay silent, I refuse to be a victim. My self worth isn’t based off of what anyone says about me, it isn’t based off the time on a clock in the pool, and it’s not based off my grades in a classroom. My worth is what I decide it to be - I have control over that: no one else. I am a thriver, not just a survivor of abuse. I’m improving my mindset both in and out of the water, and I plan to help others to do so as well. And with this mentality, I have been able to push forward and am proud to be a 5x State Champion and State Record Holder and swimmer on Team USA. This is how I have #madeHERstory.
-Miranda Heckman, State Champion Swimmer (@miranda_swims)
