Lucie Svěcená

The Rio 2016 Olympics should have been the pinnacle of Czech swimmer Lucie Svěcená's career; instead, it became just one chapter in a story that was often more about survival than winning medals. Openly and without sugarcoating, she describes her journey through elite sport – from her first podiums to chilling moments. Her story covers bullying, the loss of a loved one, pressure from those around her, and experiences of sexual harassment and stalking, subjects that are often kept quiet. When serious illness cut her career short, she found a new purpose in life outside the competition pool.