UFC superstar Paige VanZant revealed in her new book that she suffered a brutal gang rape while in high school.
TMZ reported the details on the harrowing situation detailed in the book, Rise: Surviving the Fight of My Life:
“They move me around … They change my position. I fail each time I try to resist, my limbs like wet cement on my body, my brain a heavy fog. I am awake and conscious, but my body feels dead.”
“I know what is happening but can do nothing to stop it. I have no voice or choice but to submit and pray that it ends soon.”
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Paige says the bullying she experienced after the rape was unbearable — and led to her changing her last name from Sletten to VanZant because the kids at school nicknamed her “Slutton.” Her family ultimately moved from Oregon to Nevada to give her a fresh start.
This is disturbing and horrifying on so many different levels. Anybody who has ever watch VanZant fight, train and followed her career knew that something was lingering under the surface. People don’t usually make comments about being addicted to violence, unless there has been some kind of severe trauma in their lives. You could just tell that something was under the surface that we, the fans in the public, didn’t know about.
All you need to know about the gravity of this situation is that her family up and moved away and she changed her name. People don’t do things like that over minor incidents. It all makes a lot more sense now.
Also, it’s absolutely worth pointing out how brave a person has to be in order to talk about being a rape survivor for the entire world to see. That takes true power and strength. That’s the heart of a warrior.
Paige VanZant clearly suffered through some dark days in her youth, and I think it’s safe to say that she rebounded big time. She’s now one of the most visible faces in all of sports. These scumbags took something from her that she will never get back, but she achieved a level of success most people couldn’t dream of achieving.
VanZant’s future is a bright one, and I’m glad she’s shooting for the moon.