At 23 years of age, it is strange not to see Elena Myers on the race track these days, as the talented MotoAmerica racer is undoubtedly in the prime of her life, racing-wise.
But, Myers hung up her leathers a little over a year ago, saying that she could not secure enough funding for the 2016 season – a common enough story in the American road racing paddock – but seemingly other issues were percolating below the surface of that statement.
Giving an extensive account to the Philadelphia magazine, Myers describes a narrative about how a sexual assault during a hotel massage changed not only her life, but also lead to her quitting the sport she loved.
The account is a disheartening one, and it goes beyond just allegations of an assault by a masseur, as it spills into the all-too-familiar reality of how the indifference and unwillingness of others come part and parcel with what is already a serious crime.
Myers describes in the magazine article how she “froze” on the massage table while the assault occurred, and how after the fact she neglected to inform the police. She and her mother did inform the hotel however, only to see their complaint met only with a free lunch and comped room.
The narrative ends with Myers talking about how deeply the physical attack scarred her psychologically, and how she struggled with panic attacks from the incident. Eventually, that mental burden lead to Myers leaving the sport of motorcycle racing.
Before you go read the read the full account at the Philadelphia website, it is worth noting that Myers’ story is one that you will often hear echoed from women who have been assaulted, both physically and sexually.
Unfortunately too, the default reaction by many when they hear stories like this is to question the intentions, morality, or actions of their author.
Consider this though: 1 in 6 women will be the victim of a rape during their lifetime; 63% of those women will not report the crime to the police; and 94% of women who have been sexually assaulted end up suffering from PTSD.
Source: Philadelphia Magazine & RAINN
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