Elizabeth Smart Speaks About Abduction at California Conference

For the first time since she was abducted at 14 years old, Elizabeth Smart spoke about her tragic experience outside of the courtroom. Smart appeared at a women's conference called "Overcoming the Unimaginable," put on by California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Elizabeth Smart testified in court last month about her abduction (Getty)
According to Yahoo News, Smart (now 21) was "upbeat" when she addressed the audience and described how she has regained a normal life after the incident. A video from the conference aired on the Today show this morning, in which Smart said, "I have never let it hold me back, and I have gone on to do everything, so far, that I have wanted to do, and I think that's so important." She continued, "We all have our trials, and we all experience hard times, but I don't think we should ever let it disable us from what we want to do." Watch the video below:
Brian David Mitchell and Wanda Ileen Barzee allegedly kidnapped Smart from her family's bedroom in 2002. Smart has testified in court that the couple held a knife to her throat and threatened to kill her whole family if she didn't comply, and later Mitchell repeatedly raped and assaulted her. She was returned home when someone recognized her from her story on America's Most Wanted.

More pictures of Elizabeth Smart (click any photo):

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