Gianna Cruciani
Staff Writer
In 1986, Larry Nassar joined the United States of America Gymnastics staff as an athletic trainer. In 2018, Larry Nassar was sentenced to 40 to 175 years in prison. What happened in between those years was horrific abuse that could have been prevented. Throughout his USAG career as a trusted medical professional, Larry Nassar sexually abused a large number of athletes. As of January 2018, over 160 women have come forward about Nassar’s abuse. Why was Nassar only sentenced now when women came forward for years? Many of his victims are asking the same question.
Six- time Olympic Medalist Aly Raisman testified against Nassar in a Michigan court on January 10th, 2018. Raisman spoke out against her abuser and the people who protected him.
“You were decorated by USA Gymnastics and the United States Olympic Committee, both of which put you on advisory boards and committees to come up with policies that would protect athletes from this kind of abuse. You are the person they had “take the lead of athlete care.” You are the person they say “provided the foundation for our medical system.” said Raisman about Nassars abuse of power.
Many of Nassar’s victims have spoken out about how he got away with his crimes. After Nassars sentencing it was astonishing to see how many leader’s of these organizations have resigned. Michigan State University’s President Lou Anna Simon resigned following the trial. Former MSU gymnast, Lindsey Lemke who was abused by Nassar said in her statement, “When asked to be here for a survivor’s statement today, you stated you are too busy to fit it in your schedule. Well, Lou Anna Simon, I can assure you, none of us had the time in our schedules for the past five to 20 years for Larry Nassar to abuse us.”
What happened to these athletes was a tragedy and from it has come a very powerful message;
“Let this sentence strike fear in anyone who thinks it is O.K. to hurt another person. Abusers, your time is up. The survivors are here, standing tall, and we are not going anywhere.” -Aly Raisman
This group of survivors have conveyed grace and strength speaking out to against their abuser and supporting other survivors of sexual abuse to show that it is never okay to hurt someone in this horrific way and get away with it.
Picture Caption :
Photo Courtesy of Fox News; Aly Raisman giving her very powerful victim statement in court on January 10th, 2018.
