Category: safety

United States Olympic Committee on Nassar

#BetterLateThanNever

USOC recommends all past USAG Board members resign.

Actually … USOC gives USA Gymnastics board six days to resign or federation will be decertified

The board also must “substantively discuss” at each of its meetings how the federation is progressing in implementing 70 recommendations made by former federal prosecutor Deborah Daniels, whose review of USA Gymnastics found a “complete cultural change” was needed. It must then report its progress to the USOC.

The USA Gymnastics board was quick to accept all of Daniels’ recommendations, but it has been slow to implement them.

Chief Executive Officer
United States Olympic Committee
Scott Blackmun:

To Team USA:

The athlete testimony that just concluded in the Nassar hearings framed the tragedy through the eyes of the victims and survivors, and was worse than our own worst fears. It was powerful because of the strength of the victims, survivors and parents, who so eloquently and forcefully told their stories and so rightfully demanded justice. The USOC should have been there to hear it in person, and I am deeply sorry that did not happen.

The purpose of this message is to tell all of Nassar’s victims and survivors, directly, how incredibly sorry we are. We have said it in other contexts, but we have not been direct enough with you. We are sorry for the pain caused by this terrible man, and sorry that you weren’t afforded a safe opportunity to pursue your sports dreams. The Olympic family is among those that have failed you.

I know this apology is not enough. We have been working on taking steps at the USOC and mandating changes among National Governing Bodies to ensure this does not happen again. Our next steps will be these:

1. We Must Change the Culture of the Sport.

2. We Must Change the Governance Structure of the NGB.

3. We Must Know Who Knew What and When.

4. We Must Support Safe Sport Victims and Survivors.

Open Letters To Team USA Athletes Regarding Nassar Case

NCAA investigating Michigan State University

The MSU President has resigned after 13 years.

At least a dozen former Spartan athletes — from the gymnastics, volleyball, rowing, softball and track and field programs — were among the women and girls who gave victim-impact statements during Nassar’s sentencing hearing.

That was a major reason the NCAA sent Hollis and Michigan State University a letter of inquiry this week to begin an investigation into the athletic department’s handling of the Nassar situation. …

Who will be key figures at center of NCAA investigation at Michigan State?

Larissa Boyce

In Nassar’s first year working at MSU, 1997, a gymnast from a local club team that worked out on campus accused him of sexually assaulting her in his MSU office and at Jenison Fieldhouse. Boyce reported it to Klages and says she was told she would face “serious consequences” if she reported Nassar to police. Boyce was the first victim known to have told an MSU employee about Nassar’s abuse.

related – Education Secretary Betsy DeVos said Thursday that her agency is investigating Michigan State University

Debbie Van Horn is gone

Debbie Van Horn’s tenure with the federation ended Monday, the email said. It was sent to USA Gymnastics staff by Mark McCreary, the federation’s chief administrative officer, and titled “Notice.” The email did not specify if she had been fired or if she’d resigned.

On Tuesday, 2010 world team member Mattie Larson said in court that Van Horn had been in the room “many of the times” that Nassar abused her. …

Trainer who worked alongside Larry Nassar no longer with USA Gymnastics

new film – teen molested by a coach

… Writer-director Jennifer Fox dives into the sexual abuse she suffered as a teenager, and proceeds to interrogate her own memories with unflinching clarity. …

In the age of #MeToo, The Tale shows how every story of sexual abuse is unique …

The Tale, about a teen molested by a coach, is Sundance’s most unexpectedly vital film

Laura Dern plays the victim as an adult, Isabel Nelisse the teen.

The teen comes to terms with sexual abuse she suffered at the hands of her running coach. At the time — age 13 — she believed it was a romantic relationship.

By coincidence Isabel Nelisse was a gymnast at Gymnix, as was her sister Sophie.

Thanks GML.

Doc Ali apologizes for briefly supporting Nassar

The day the Jane Doe lawsuit was filed, I talked to a very distraught Larry Nassar. He told me that he was so sad that the two athletes that had filed suit has mistaken the “procedure” he had done to them as a abuse. He claimed that it was a justified medical procedure by the National Osteopathic Association and he had lectured about it many times. He was crying on the phone.

I felt sad for a colleague I had worked with for 20 years and later that day I posted, “Sending love and support” on his Facebook page. I now know that Larry was a master manipulator but at the time I felt compassion towards him. …

Ali Arnold 

No doubt many of his past colleagues are feeling the same way right now.

John Geddert suspended – unofficial

John Geddert, U.S. women’s gymnastics coach for the gold-medal-winning 2012 Olympic team in London, has been suspended by USA Gymnastics until it completes an investigation, sources have told Outside the Lines.

Geddert, the most decorated women’s gymnastics coach in Michigan history, has operated two gyms that employed Larry Nassar, …

USA Gymnastics is the sport’s governing body, and under its policies, Geddert can request a review of his suspension; he did not respond to requests for comment. USA Gymnastics declined immediate comment. …

ESPN 

Parilla, Binder, Bitsy Kelley resign

USA Gymnastics:

USA Gymnastics Board of Directors executive leadership – Chairman Paul Parilla, Vice Chairman Jay Binder and Treasurer Bitsy Kelley – tendered their resignations, effective January 21, 2018. The Board of Directors will identify an interim chairperson until a permanent selection is named.

Kerry Perry, President and CEO, USA Gymnastics:

“USA Gymnastics thanks Paul Parilla, Jay Binder and Bitsy Kelley for their many years of service to this organization. We support their decisions to resign at this time. We believe this step will allow us to more effectively move forward in implementing change within our organization.

“As the board identifies its next chair and fills the vacant board positions, we remain focused on working every day to ensure that our culture, policies and actions reflect our commitment to those we serve.”

NY Times:

Mark Jones, a spokesman for the U.S.O.C., said that top Olympic committee officials met with Parilla on Jan. 11 to ask him to resign.

The Olympic committee has decertified other federations in the past for mismanagement, stripping them of their authority as the national governing bodies. Mr. Blackmun’s statement did not indicate that the committee deemed that necessary in this case. …

Three U.S.A. Gymnastics Board Members Resign

MUST read – Miss Val on the USAG

Since 1982 I have coached 46 former U.S. National team members, and have garnered the trust of countless more. I have witnessed the physical and emotional pain these athletes have struggled with after their elite careers ended and they became collegiate athletes. …

The names of the coaches/abusers changed a little over the decades, but the stories were identical. Stories of verbal, emotional and physical abuse that were simply the way of life for an aspiring elite gymnast.

How has this perverse culture of abusive power festered for so many decades?

In listening to all of the brave women who have come forward in the courtroom to confront Nassar, I can’t escape the thought that while he is a mentally deranged pedophile, he is not the head of the monster. The monster is the Culture of USA Gymnastics. Abusive behavior is the example the Karolyis cultivated. …

Time’s Up USAG

Nastia apologizes for late support of teammates

This is an apology to anyone who had the perception I was not in complete support of my teammates and the women who have suffered at the hands of Larry Nassar.

When I first found out about Larry’s disgusting crimes, I was completely shocked. I couldn’t believe the man I trusted and had even publicly thanked for helping to heal my injuries was a monster to so many people I care so much about.

One of the first times I was asked about this was on national television and I was completely caught off guard.  I realized I gave the impression I was not fully supportive of my teammates. I stumbled through my words because I couldn’t even begin to process my thoughts, let alone my words, about his abhorrent and criminal actions.

This letter is also a commitment from me, to help create positive change and a brighter future. As a small first step, I have requested that all proceeds (ticket sales, merchandise sales, and any and all other revenue) from the Nastia Liukin Cup this March will be donated to an organization which supports victims of sexual abuse. I am currently doing my due diligence to find the right organization. …

To The Gymnastics Community…