Swedish golfer Madelene Sagstrom has revealed she was sexually abused as a child and hopes by speaking out she may help others in the same situation deal with the trauma.
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Sagstrom, ranked No.62 in the world, said she was abused by an adult male friend in Sweden when she was 7-years-old but kept it secret for 16 years.
The 28-year-old said she first shared her story in 2016 with her mentor Robert Karlsson, a former Ryder Cup player who she had met through the Swedish national team.
"For 16 years, I acted like nothing ever happened," Sagstrom told the LPGA Tour. "I immersed myself in golf. Golf became my saviour. And when I played well, I was okay.
"What I didn't realise is that I simply did not like who I was. All those years, I blamed myself. I hated myself. I despised my body and hurt myself both mentally and physically. That day haunted me.
"Telling Robert was the biggest release I've ever had. It's a big reason why I won three times in 2016 and earned my LPGA Tour card. I didn't feel like I was hiding anymore."
Sagstrom later told her family and others around her, which she described as the "start of a new chapter" in her life.
"The day I shared my secret, all my walls broke down," she said. "Finding my voice and courage to share my experience has taken time.
"If I touch one life by telling my story, it will all be worth it."
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Australian Associated Press