Olympic gymnast Aly Raisman is taking a brief moment to thank her fans around the world for the support over the years and also recognizing the anniversary of one of her biggest accomplishments with an adorable throwback photo to commemorate the occasion. The 26-year-old gold-medal gymnastics star took to Instagram on Friday afternoon and treated her 2.1 million followers to a special thank you note while celebrating the 3rd anniversary of her bestselling memoir, “Fierce: How Competing for Myself Changed Everything.”
Aly Raisman’s memoir was published in 2017 and details her hard-fought road to becoming a world-class gymnastics champion and appearing in two Olympic games.
“Fierce came out 3 years ago… I feel so lucky that so many of you have taken the time to listen/read my story,” Raisman began her message to fans in her Instagram post.
Related to what you're reading:
She continued, “Thank you for supporting me. I never expected to receive the love that I did & I just want you to know how much your kindness has helped me & motivated me during difficult times.”
Raisman explained that she has connected with her fans over the years because of writing her book, which even made it to the N.Y. Times Best Sellers list.
“After writing Fierce so many of you shared your stories with me. I have learned so much from so many of you. You have taught me the power of sharing stories & the power of supporting one another. Thank you. I will forever be grateful. I hope you feel my love & appreciation & support to you.”
“Fierce” was more than just Aly Raisman’s journey to becoming an Olympic champion, it also detailed the sexual abuse she suffered at the hands of the former Team USA Gymnastics doctor, Larry Nassar.
“I would lie on the table, my hands involuntarily balling themselves into fists as his ungloved hands worked their way under my clothing,” Raisman chillingly wrote in the book while describing the “treatments” she would receive from Nassar.
The disgraced former doctor has thankfully been sentenced to multiple life sentences in federal prison after his conviction of multiple acts of sexual assault.
Aly Raisman was spotlighted in the trial and conviction of Larry Nassar as one of the key witnesses, and discussed the events in her memoir. Many fans and supporters of the star have praised her over the years for standing up for herself and others, and continued to drop love on social media years later.
“Thank you for showing us all what courage is, I’m forever grateful!!” one fan wrote in Raisman’s comments.
“So inspiring,” a second person wrote in support of Raisman.