Mexican athlete Fernanda Herrera has publicly revealed her identity as a victim of sexual assault and shared her experience following the acquittal of the two men she accused of rape in Italy three years ago at a hotel during a summer sports camp.
The athlete, who practices saber fencing, explained that she decided to speak openly about her story to highlight the obstacles that, according to her, many women face when reporting these types of crimes.
“I haven’t wanted to show my face all this time. Now I’m tired of it. I want people to see me because I’m proud of myself. I’m proud because in these three years, in addition to sacrificing myself for the sport, I’ve fought for justice, and I won’t stop,” she said tearfully to the media as she left the courthouse.
She denounced the fact that her case is not isolated in the world of sports: “I can’t believe what happened. This can’t keep happening. It’s not just me; there are so many cases in sports and around the world where women are silenced,” she stated. She encouraged other victims who have experienced similar situations to share their stories: “I’m here for all of you, and please, speak up when something this awful happens to you,” she urged.
The Mexican fencer explained that she decided to share her story publicly because she believes it’s important to break the silence and the stigma surrounding sexual assault. She also emphasized that the acquittal of the accused in the first instance does not invalidate her account and announced that she will appeal the judge’s decision. “I will go all the way to get justice,” she said.
