USA Gymnastics Attempts to Silence the Abused
By BECCA CROSS
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University of Michigan and Olympics doctor, Larry Nassar has gathered controversy over the three decades he practiced medicine. However, on January 16, 2018, it all culminated in a hearing before a judge.
Over 145 young women claim the doctor used “treatments” for (sport) rehabilitation and general medical purposes. However, revealed in a heartbreaking trial, Nassar is alleged to have traumatically sexually abuse almost all of his patients. One of the women who stepped forward, Kyle Stephens, whose abuse started at the young and tender age of six, recounts, “He used his power as an adult to manipulate me’ she proceeds to assert extremely explicit and gruesome details of his abuse ‘with [her] parents, siblings, his wife, and his children in the same house’” according to wnep.com.
Larry Nassar served as doctor to the USA Gymnastics team, training them at gymnastics compound in Texas alongside traveling with them, such as accompanying them to the London 2012 olympics. However, several olympians have spoken out against Dr. Nassar publicly.
American gymnast, Mckayla Maroney allegedly has a settlement in place with USA Gymnastics for approximately one-hundred thousand dollars. Therefore, she cannot speak out to share her experiences with the doctor. However, others have accused the doctor of sexual abuse, including: Simone Biles, Aly Raisman, and Gabby Douglas.
As of January 24, 2018, Dr. Larry Nassar has been sentenced 40-175 years in prison while the judge resigning his case, Judge Rosemarie Aquilina claimed shortly after, “I just signed your death warrant” according to the article, “CBC Olympics.”
Meanwhile, according to Madeleine Aggeler, “USA Gymnastics executives are resigning amid the sexual abuse scandal.”
Works Cited
Aggeler, Madeleine. “USA Gymnastics Execs Resign amid Sexual-Abuse Scandal.” The Cut, 22 Jan. 2018, www.thecut.com/2018/01/usa-gymnastics-execs-resign-amid-larry-nassar-sexual-abuse-scandal.html. Accessed 24 Jan. 2018.
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“CBC Olympics.” CBC Olympics, Canadian Broadcasting, 24 Jan. 2018, twitter.com/CBCOlympics ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor. Accessed 24 Jan. 2018.
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“Larry Nassar’s Abuse Victims, in Their Own Words.” Performance by Kyle Stephens, cnnwire.com, 17 Jan. 2018. http://wnep.com/2018/01/17/larry-nassars-abuse-victims-in-their-own-words/