In London, thousands of athletes from around the world will hope to turn a lifetime of rigorous training and sacrifice into the ultimate triumph.

But perhaps no athlete has endured a more tumultuous journey than U.S. judo star Kayla Harrison.

The 22-year-old Ohio native was sexually abused for years by her childhood coach, Daniel Doyle, who is now serving a 10-year prison sentence after Harrison testified against him in 2007.

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In the wake of the Jerry Sandusky sexual abuse scandal at Penn State last year, Harrison decided she needed to go public with her story.  

"I was almost disheartened by my country, to hear that kids at Penn State were protesting for (Joe Paterno) but not for the victims," she told Fox Sports.

"What kind of world do I live in? Are students really doing that? When that happened, when the victim was that far away (from people's minds), I was in shock."