The people come forward to Aly Raisman almost daily now.
Random strangers. Men and women of various ages, races and backgrounds.
They see the six-time Olympic medal winning gymnast out in public and approach with a hug to give and a story to tell.
It was jarring at first, if Raisman is being honest.
When she pitched her autobiography “Fierce” to publishers last summer shortly after the 2016 Olympics, she intended to focus on her journey from tenacious prodigy to champion.
And while all of that is in there, the part of her experience that’s resonated the most since the book’s release earlier this month is the one she wasn’t sure she’d be able to share.