Larry Nassar deserves to spend the rest of his life in prison. Not only because of what he did to me, my teammates and so many other little girls — He needs to be behind bars so he will never prey upon another child. I urge you to impose the maximum sentence upon him.
Ever since I went public with my story, I have been inspired and uplifted by the love and support of my former teammates, fans and many other good people.
People should know that sexual abuse of children is not just happening in Hollywood, in the media or in the halls of Congress. This is happening everywhere. Wherever there is a position of power, there seems to be potential for abuse. I had a dream to go to the Olympics, and the things that I had to endure to get there, were unnecessary, and disgusting.
I was deeply saddened by the stories of my fellow Olympic teammates that suffered as I did at the hands of Larry Nassar. More than 140 women and girls had to say, “#MeToo” to Nassar’s sexual assaults and hundreds more were victimized to create the pornographic images that fueled his evil desires.
A question that has been asked over and over is: How could have Larry Nassar been allowed to assault so many women and girls for more than two decades?
The answer to that question lies in the failure of not one, but three major institutions to stop him — Michigan State University, USA Gymnastics and the Untied States Olympic Committee.
When my story became public the US Olympic Committee said, “Each doctor working with our athletes undergoes background checks including an evaluation of medical licensure actions. Unfortunately, this predator was not identified by any organization during the time in question.” Reports in the Nation’s leading newspaper and media outlets document credible claims that Michigan State University trainers and coaches received complaints about Nassar going back to the late 1990s. These complaints were ignored.
Nassar was note even licensed to practice medicine in Texas, yet he “treated” and abused girls at the Karolyi Ranch Olympic Training Center in Huntsville, Texas for more than 15 years.
In 2014, Nassar was the subject of a Michigan State University investigation based on additional complaints of sexual misconduct. This botched investigation concluded that Nassar’s actions, which he has now admitted were sexual assaults, were legitimate medical treatments. He was allowed to go back to work at Michigan State University and continue molesting girls. USA Gymnastics and US Olympic Committee were never informed of this investigation.
When other Olympic and National Team athletes complained to USA Gymnastics about Larry Nassar in 2015, he was allowed to retire as the Olympic Team doctor and Michigan State University was never informed of the complaints against him.
He returned to Michigan State University and allegedly continued to molest young girls until he was finally arrested nearly a year later.
A simple fact is this. If Michigan State University, USA Gymnastics and the US Olympic Committee had paid attention to any of the red flags in Larry Nassar’s behavior I never would have met him, I never would have been “treated” by him, and I never would have been abused by him.
It is my hope that federal and state law enforcement agencies will not close the book on the Larry Nassar scandal after he receives his just punishment. It is time to hold the leadership of Michigan State University, USA Gymnastics and the United States Olympic Committee accountable for allowing, and in some cases enabling, his crimes.
Our silence has given the wrong people power for too long, and it’s time to take our power back.
If you or anyone you know has been sexually abused, please call the RAINN Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) today.