(UNCUT) Bridie Farrell: My Olympic dream was derailed by abuse.

Bridie Farrell, a former competitive speedskater, fought for a law in New York that allowed victims of sexual abuse to file civil lawsuits years later. On July 2020 she filed such a suit in New York Supreme Court against her alleged abuser, four-time Olympian Andy Gabel, US Speedskating and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee.

Farrell was able to file the case more than two decades later thanks to a 2019 state law for which Farrell had advocated. The law created a one-year “look-back” window during which victims of past sexual abuse can file civil suits even if the statute of limitations has expired.

In this exclusive movie made by Mona Eldaief for Real Women Real Stories, Bridie Farrell alleges that she was subject to serial grooming and sexual abuse that began in 1997, when she was a 15-year-old Olympic hopeful and Andy Gabel was 33.

Bridie Farrell was a teenager then, with dreams of competing at the Winter Olympics, when one of short-track speedskating’s biggest stars — a man more than twice her age — began sexually abusing her, she says. The first time was in a car, Farrell says, and for more than seven months, the abuse continued in hotel rooms, bedrooms and an Olympic training center. Bridie Farrell is an extraordinary woman in a variety of ways. Instead of slamming the door on the most traumatic experience of her life, Farrell transformed it into her new vocation. She also talks about the beautiful side of this sport and her everlasting love for speedskating.

Listen to her full, raw and important story here on our channel. If Bridie and her story gives you hope please subscribe, like, comment and donate to our movement.

(UNCUT) Bridie Farrell: My Olympic dream was derailed by abuse. (YouTube)