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Biles Says She, Too, Was Abused by Doctor
After having vocally supported her teammates as they publicly detailed the sexual abuse they endured, Simone Biles, one of the most decorated gymnasts in Olympic history, added her own name Monday to the list of those who have accused Dr. Lawrence G. Nassar of sexual abuse.
Nassar, a former team physician for both USA Gymnastics and Michigan State University, where he was a faculty member, has been accused by more than 130 women of sexual abuse. Nassar, 54, was sentenced to 60 years in prison last month for a conviction related to child pornography, and he is awaiting additional sentencing after having pleaded guilty to one set of molestation charges, which could bring a life sentence. More criminal charges are likely to follow, and a group of accusers has also filed a civil case against him.
Among Nassar’s more prominent accusers are Olympic gold medalists Aly Raisman, Gabby Douglas and McKayla Maroney. Biles, who won four gold medals at the 2016 Rio Olympics, including a title in the all-around event, is 20 years old and still in her prime as a gymnast. She mentioned in her statement that her dream was to compete at the 2020 Tokyo Games, though she lamented that it would require training in the facilities where she was abused.
In a statement provided to The Associated Press, USA Gymnastics said the organization was “heartbroken, sorry and angry” that Biles and other athletes had been harmed by Nassar.
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“USA Gymnastics’ support is unwavering for Simone and all athletes who courageously came forward to share their experiences,” the organization’s statement said. “We are our athletes’ advocates. USA Gymnastics will continue to listen to our athletes and our members in our efforts of creating a culture of empowerment with a relentless focus on athlete safety every single day.”
Biles had been fiercely protective of her teammates who revealed their own abuse, including during a controversy that ensued after Raisman disclosed her experience and Douglas seemed to criticize the victims before apologizing and adding her own name to the list. Biles’ statement explained what had caused her to wait until months later to reveal her own allegations.
“For too long I’ve asked myself, ‘Was I too naive? Was it my fault?'” she said. “I now know the answer to those questions. No. No, it was not my fault. No, I will not and should not carry the guilt that belongs to Larry Nassar, USAG and others.”
Raisman was quick to praise Biles’ statement in a Twitter post of her own.
“I am so proud of you," Raisman wrote. "You are incredible Simone. I stand with you. I am shaking reading your post. I know we will all get through this together.”
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It was an Indianapolis Star investigation in 2016 that publicly revealed the allegations against Nassar that had led to his firing by USA Gymnastics in 2015. In September 2016, a Star report detailed the experiences of two gymnasts who said that they had been sexually abused. Rachael Denhollander was named in the initial report, and Jamie Dantzscher later revealed herself as the second gymnast.
The case against Nassar now includes gymnasts at all levels, with at least eight having been members of the U.S. national team, five of whom have competed in the Olympics.
There has been a great deal of criticism of USA Gymnastics as well, with several victims accusing the organization of negligence or complicity in the abuse. In a lawsuit against USA Gymnastics, Maroney said the organization had paid her to sign a nondisclosure agreement that prevented her from speaking out; the organization responded by saying she and her lawyer had initiated the process rather than the other way around. In March 2017, Steve Penny resigned as president of USA Gymnastics.
The decades worth of allegations against Nassar will most likely take some time to sort out, but Biles’ statement included a call for the investigation to continue until a resolution can be found for the victims.
“We need to know why this was able to take place for so long and to so many of us,” she said. “We need to make sure something like this never happens again.”
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The New York Times
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