Monday night, Olympic swimmer Jenny Thompson was attacked by two “dark-skinned, black men†in Brookline, MA, according to WBZ-TV. She was riding home on her Vespa scooter around 10 pm when the two suspects exited their dark car and approached her. One of the men punched her in the face and attempted to steal her scooter.
Ms. Thompson screamed “at the top of [her] lungs†until people came out of the neighboring homes. “I didn’t know I could scream so loud,†Ms. Thompson said in her exclusive interview with WBZ. The two attackers ran off without the scooter, and luckily Ms. Thompson received only minor injuries, including a cut nose and scrapes on her knees and elbows.
While Jenny Thompson’s injuries did not require her to be seen at a hospital, she’s still shaken up and trying to move on from the attack, “I've been having a hard time dealing with the fact that I've always felt very in control of my body and free to go where I please, when I please, and I want to try to avoid that feeling of being a victim.â€
This story reminds me that women need to know some self-defense techniques, in the event of an attack. It is terrifying to think about, and I don’t want anyone to be walking around, tensed and ready to beat up anybody who approaches her, but I feel it is important to know how to protect and defend ourselves.
I'm looking into signing up for a self-defense class with my sister and girlfriends. In those courses the instructor wears pads and simulates rape and attack scenarios to teach real life self-defense techniques. It should be an entertaining, informational, and empowering experience for everyone. We should not be afraid of attackers in our day to day lives, but ladies, we DO need to be prepared. Attackers want easy targets. Walk with purpose, make eye-contact, show you are not afraid. Do not become a victim.
For other tips on how to defend yourself, check out this informative article from Power to Change.
Picture Source: Flickr
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