Madeleine Saxstrom (29, Sweden) of the American Women’s Professional Golf (LPGA) tour confessed to sexual harassment as a child.
Saxstrom said in a contribution posted on the LPGA Tour website on the night of the 22nd (Korean time) that he was sexually harassed by the landlord after going to a neighbor’s house when he was 7 years old. The perpetrator was not Saxstrom’s relative, but he was a very close adult. Saxstrom, however, buried the pain in his heart at the time and did not speak to anyone.
Saxstrom tried to forget the pain through golf. But the terrible memories of that time continued to torment Saxstrom. Saxstrom said, “I have come to consider myself useless. I couldn’t even apply lotion to my legs. I hated my body. Because of what someone did to me… ”
Saxstrom joined the LPGA Symmetra Tour in 2016, but was unable to control his emotions during the game. Robert Karlsson, who was Saxstrom’s mentor and active in the American Professional Golf (PGA) tour, asked why, and Saxstrom cried loudly and confessed his sexual harassment to Carlson.
“I couldn’t believe I had been done by someone I trusted,” Saxstrom said. For 16 years, I rebuked myself, hated myself, and despised my body. That destroyed my mind. I always suffered from nightmares and I tried hard to get out.”
Saxstrom was able to escape from his inner pain only after revealing his 16-year-old secret. Saxstrom was settled, and it was easy to touch her skin. Also, I became less nervous during the game, and I did not get nervous even if I played poorly.
Saxstrom debuted on the LPGA Tour in 2017 after winning three wins on the Symmetra Tour in 2016, and won her first LPGA Tour title at Gainbridge last year. Saxstrom explained that confessing the painful memories he had hidden was the opportunity for a new life. “It took a while to get my voice back and share my experiences,” Saxstrom said. “If sharing what I’ve been through helps others, it’s worth it.”
Reporter Heo Jong-ho