Margaret Hoelzer
Former competitive swimmer Margaret Hoelzer didn’t have as prominent a career as some of the women on this list. Her debut and final Olympic Games appearance was in 2018, where she would take home two silvers and a bronze. After coming home from Beijing, she left the sport and shifted her focus to helping traumatized children.
As a minor, Margaret was assaulted on multiple occasions. The experience and her incredible achievements in the world of sports led her to become the spokesperson for the Children’s Advocacy Center. Margaret would later receive the Voice of Courage Award for her efforts in raising awareness of child abuse.