Aly Raisman is a champion. And a survivor. And she knows it takes a village to help heal.
The Olympic gold medalist gymnast was used to performing at the absolute highest level, both physical and mental. She retired from the sport with six Olympic and five World Championship medals in 2020, but then she faced challenges beyond the mat. She was among the brave women who testified before the Senate about failures in the case against USA Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar, who was convicted of sexual abuse of athletes. She opened up about her mental health challenges and abuse at the hands of Nassar, and became an activist and advocate for mental health. She wrote a children’s book in 2024 called “From My Head to My Toes,” which aims to teach children about bodily consent.
Clearly, her drive to be a champion hasn’t dimmed. She will be honored by the Purina Purple Leash Project for her advocacy efforts at Variety’s Power of Women event Oct. 29.
The Purina Purple Leash Project helps create pet-friendly shelters for survivors of domestic abuse, making sure that they can keep their beloved pets with them and receive care in pet-friendly environments.
Raisman knows how much a furry friend can help abuse survivors as well as people struggling with mental health challenges.
“It’s hard to put into words how much my dog Milo means to me and how much love he’s brought into my life,” she says about her canine companion, who is almost always at her side. She praises the unconditional love she gets from Milo, and how he’s changed her perspective on the world. “No matter how many times I throw a ball to him, he could do it all day, every day, and it’s every time he sees it, it’s like the first time he’s seeing it, or the first time he’s experiencing it. And that has really helped me in my own personal healing journey of remembering to find moments of magic.
“One of my favorite quotes is ‘Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it.’”
She’s been a fan of the Purple Leash Project for a while. “I really appreciate and admire the work and their mission. I didn’t realize before Purple Leash had told me that less than 20% of domestic abuse violence shelters in the U.S. accept pets, and Purina is working hard to change that,” she notes.
Raisman says what’s also so devastating is that 48% of survivors actually delay leaving abusive situations because they can’t bring their pets with them. “And over 70% of women in domestic violence shelters report their abuser threatened, injured or killed a pet as a means of control,” she adds. “I can’t stress enough how important the work that Purple Leash and Purina are doing, because it’s truly saving lives. It’s also saving the pets’ lives.”
Raisman makes the point that many people suffer in silence, but there is help and hope out there for them.
“The journey to healing is definitely not ‘one size fits all,’ and unfortunately, it can be really difficult to find a support system. And what I’ve learned from speaking at colleges across the country and meeting people, whether it’s at the grocery store or the airport, is there are a lot more people than we realize, that have been abused.”
Raisman also realizes that finding support — whether confiding in a friend or finding a therapist — can be daunting and hamper trying to get help.
“If there’s a survivor reading this, I want them to know that there is hope out there, there is help,” she says. “I think what has really helped me is remembering that I’m not going to feel like this forever. So on the days where I’m struggling the most, I remind myself that this is the bad day. It’s going to pass, and I’m not going to feel like this forever. But there is help out there, and there are really wonderful people out there who do really care.”
Raisman truly nailed the landing.
