How she found strength through loss and turned her pain into purpose
On a crisp fall Saturday, Lauren Sisler steps onto the sidelines, poised and ready to deliver live coverage for ESPN. On the outside, she embodies confidence, but the journey that led her to this moment is a testament to something else: her incredible resilience.
Lauren, a former collegiate gymnast and now an Emmy Award-winning broadcaster, forged her path to success through personal tragedy, the kind that could break even the strongest of spirits. Yet, she stands stronger than ever, telling stories of the athletes she covers, but also her own battle with grief, shame, and, ultimately, healing.
Lauren’s love for sports was ingrained in her from an early age. Growing up in a Roanoke, Virginia, household where her brother was a three-sport athlete, her father volunteered as a coach for community sports, and Lauren was a standout gymnast, sports were as much a part of her life as breathing. “We always had college football or NFL playing on the TV,” she recalls. “I was so competitive as a gymnast, and I loved the camaraderie that came with sports.”
Driven by a desire to help injured athletes, Lauren dreamed of becoming a sports doctor, a goal she pursued when she entered Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey, on a gymnastics scholarship.
But life had other plans.
As Lauren struggled academically, her world was shaken by a devastating loss. During her freshman year at Rutgers, 18-year-old Lauren received a phone call that would forever alter the course of her life. Her mother, Lesley, had passed away from a fentanyl overdose. Five hours later, Lauren’s father, Butch, also lost his life after ingesting a fentanyl patch. In the span of one heartbreaking night, Lauren lost both of her parents to a battle she didn’t even know they were fighting.
“I lived in denial for years,” Lauren admits, the pain of that day still raw in her voice.
She buried the truth, not wanting anyone to know how her parents had died. “I was ashamed of it,” she adds.
For nearly a decade, she kept their deaths a secret, afraid of being judged by her peers or even a stranger on the street. It wasn’t until years later, after her aunt gently pushed her to confront the reality of their passing, that Lauren began to heal.
“There was therapy; there still is therapy,” she laughs, before shifting to a more serious tone. “But that has been essential in this journey and its nothing to be ashamed of. Rather, it helped me overcome so much shame.”
As she slowly emerged from the shadow of grief, Lauren sought a way to rebuild her life. The world of sports broadcasting, with its storytelling and fast-paced energy, provided her with a new direction.
“Broadcast seemed like such a good fit,” she says. “I’m a performer, after all, gymnastics is all about performance. So, combining that with a love of sports and a knack for storytelling, I embarked on a new career path.”
After interning at CNBC and working at various news stations, Lauren eventually landed in Birmingham, Alabama, where she found herself rooted in the passion of SEC football.
It was during her time working at a local station in Birmingham that Lauren had an encounter that would further transform her understanding of resilience. Timothy Alexander, a young man who had been paralyzed in a car accident in high school, once again changed the trajectory of Lauren’s life.
“Timothy was one of the top tight ends in Alabama before his accident, and instead of letting that past define him, he used that tragedy to fuel his purpose,” she explains.
When Lauren first met Timothy, he was taking up tickets at a University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) baseball game. A year later, as Lauren stood on the sidelines at a UAB football practice, Timothy called her name, and they shared another interaction. Intrigued by his story, she knew it was one she had to tell. Timothy’s journey of overcoming the odds left a profound impact on Lauren. In witnessing his openness and determination, she found the courage to embrace her own story. “Timothy gave me permission, so to speak, to share my story,” Lauren reflects. “Seeing how much he was willing to share the depths of the good and the bad, I realized I had an opportunity to do the same.”
This realization shifted Lauren’s perspective on her role as a broadcaster. No longer was it just about delivering the latest stats and scores—it became a mission to tell stories that mattered, stories of perseverance and strength. It was also another turning point in her personal healing journey, as she decided to share her own story with an even broader audience.
Her new book, Shatterproof, is a deeply personal account of her loss and the long road to acceptance, detailing the stages she has worked through, and continues to work through, in pursuit of healing from the trauma of the loss and breaking free from the associated shame.
But for Lauren, the book is about more than just recounting her past. “Through this book, I want to let people know they are not alone in their struggles, and they can find the courage to fall in love with their own stories,” she says. “Your story is powerful, and even if it’s challenging, it’s beautiful.”
Lauren’s messages of tenacity and resolve are especially relevant in today’s world, where mental health is becoming a more prevalent conversation, particularly in the sports industry.
“As athletes, we put up this persona that we’re unbreakable,” she says. “But it’s okay to not be okay. Sometimes, resilience is found in taking a pause, re-evaluating, and pushing forward from there.”
With the demands of being a full-time broadcaster, motivational speaker, wife, mother, and now, author, Lauren’s day-to-day life is managed by a simple yet profound philosophy: “Be where your feet are.” A phrase that Lauren carries with her every day, a reminder to stay present and grounded, no matter the chaos that surrounds her.
“It’s easy to get caught up in the next thing to accomplish,” she says, “but being intentional with your time and focusing on what’s in front of you is essential.”
Whether she’s on the road covering a high-profile football game or spending time at home with her husband, John, and son, Mason, Lauren lives by this mantra. It keeps her centered and helps her prioritize what matters most in life.
Lauren’s journey is one of perseverance, grace, and finding purpose through adversity. Her story is not just a testament to overcoming tragedy but also to the power of vulnerability and authenticity. “Don’t run from adversity,” she urges. “Lean into it and attack it. Gratitude can be a powerful force, and I want people to find joy in their journey, no matter how difficult it may seem.”
This deep sense of gratitude extends to how she remembers her parents.
“I remind myself often that my parents aren’t defined by how they died, but by how they lived, and they really lived beautiful lives, even if they faced those challenges. My parents have been gone for 21 years, but I still feel their presence, especially now as a parent myself. What I had with them is such a gift, and it’s a gift that keeps on giving now that I have my own child,” she says.
Through her work, Lauren Sisler continues to inspire others to own their stories and to find strength in even the darkest of moments. She proves that, even in the face of the most devastating circumstances, it is possible to emerge stronger, more determined, and yes, even shatterproof. TG
Photos by Ryan McGill and courtesy Lauren Sisler.
A special thanks to the City of Birmingham and Legion Field staff for photography access.
