In December 2022, ONE Atomweight MMA World Champion Angela Lee faced a tragedy that would forever change her life.
Her younger sister, Victoria, sadly passed away at the tender age of 18.
Angela decided to use her platform to share the heartbreaking truth about Victoria’s sudden demise.
In an emotional video, she disclosed that her sister’s death was a result of suicide.
Angela spoke about the importance of raising awareness about the struggles that young athletes face.
In a candid admission, Angela revealed that she herself survived a suicide attempt in 2017, an incident that was shrouded in secrecy at the time.
Reports had only indicated that she had been in a car accident, with only her husband, former ONE athlete Bruno Pucci, privy to the painful truth.
“It’s been six years, and although I’ve done a lot of growing and healing since then, it’s still difficult to think about, let alone talk about,” Angela expressed.
“Because I survived, it was difficult to go on and live life as normal because no one really knew what had happened.”
Her revelation highlights the stigma often associated with mental health issues. This has driven Angela to take action.
Earlier this year, she founded the non-profit organization named Fightstory.
Angela views Fightstory as a way to honor her sister’s memory and as a means of creating something positive in the wake of an agonizing tragedy.
“Fightstory was created because of Victoria. She was the most selfless person I knew. She would want her passing to mean something, to save lives,” Angela said.
Angela Lee expected to address future at ONE Fight Night 14
As Angela Lee grapples with the grief of losing her younger sister, she has chosen to keep a relatively low profile for the past nine months.
This decision led to the introduction of an Interim Atomweight MMA World Title, set to be battled for by Stamp Fairtex and Ham Seo Hee.
This bout will headline ONE Fight Night 14, airing live in U.S. primetime from the Singapore Indoor Stadium on September 29.
She is anticipated to be in attendance for the event to address her career.
If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide or emotional distress, please seek immediate help from a mental health professional.
In the United States, you can contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988.
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