Victoria Vortex, Team USA wrestling’s first-ever four-time women’s collegiate national champion and two-time Olympic alternate, has a perspective on safety that might surprise many.
Despite traveling solo across approximately 20 countries, the only times she’s truly felt unsafe were in American cities.
During a recent appearance on The HJR Podcast, Vortex said: “But I’ve traveled probably 20 countries by myself like no one and it’s never… I literally never had an issue. Not saying there couldn’t have been an issue, but the only two places I’ve ever felt unsafe were in US cities. Like one night in LA and one night in New York that I can remember.”
This remarkable confidence isn’t coincidence. It’s the direct result of a lifetime dedicated to combat sports, beginning with judo at age six and transitioning to wrestling at fourteen. What Vortex didn’t realize until adulthood was that her experience navigating the world differs dramatically from most women’s reality.
“You gain a sense of self-confidence, I think, just walking around and maneuvering the world that I didn’t realize till I was older that not all girls and women get to experience,” Vortex explained during. “Like a lot of women are just walking around earth scared, like constantly scared.”
The revelation came through social media, where Vortex discovered that many women feel uncomfortable simply walking in public areas at night—something she’d never fully comprehended. While acknowledging the importance of street smarts and situational awareness, she attributes her confidence to something deeper: the energy she projects.
“There’s an energy that I bring that I’m not someone you should prey on,” she reflected.
The host agreed with her, saying:”People who try to prey on women feel energy. And when people are not afraid, they’re like, ‘Whoa, maybe I’ll stay away from her.'”
Vortex emphasizes that combat sports training creates a fundamental shift in how women carry themselves. Whether it’s wrestling, jiu-jitsu, or taekwondo, these disciplines build an internal confidence that translates into external presence.
Her journey wasn’t without challenges. As a teenager joining her high school’s boys wrestling team, she faced social anxiety about fitting in and even an intimidating confrontation from another female student. Yet these obstacles paled compared to the gift combat sports gave her: the freedom to move through the world without constant fear.
Now transitioning to MMA with four amateur bouts under her belt, Vortex advocates passionately for girls and women to participate in combat sports—not necessarily to become fighters, but to gain that irreplaceable sense of self-assurance.
