Category: safety

will the USA participate in the Winter Olympics?

Both White House spokesperson Sarah Huckabee and U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley have recently said they might not attend.

White House sends mixed signals on U.S. Winter Olympic participation

Nancy Armour:

The U.S. Olympic Committee is not a government organization – it doesn’t receive direct federal funding – and it will make the call on whether to send a team to Pyeongchang. Any other Olympics, for that matter, too.

And yes, I know all about the U.S. boycott of the Moscow Games in 1980. President Jimmy Carter called for it after the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan, but it still was the USOC that had the final say. …

USA Today

Aly’s Victim Impact Statement

Aly Raisman had requested to read a Victim Impact Statement in court on the day of sentencing.

Unfortunately the judge decided not to allow it in the case of Larry Nassar. He was sentenced to 60 years in federal prison on child pornography charges.

Aly posted it online today:

Larry was the USA Gymnastics national team doctor and the U.S. Olympic Team doctor. He was trusted by so many and took advantage of countless athletes, and their families.

The effects of his actions are far-reaching, since abuse goes way beyond the moment, often haunting survivors for the rest of their lives, making it difficult for them to trust others, and impacting their relationships. It is all the more devastating when such abuse comes at the hand of such a highly respected doctor, since it leaves victims questioning the organizations — and even the medical profession itself — upon which so many rely. …

I am trying now to take back my control, to remind myself that Larry has no power over me. It is never easy, but I am fighting to believe that the sport — which I do love — is independent of Larry and those who allowed him to do what he did. I’ve decided that I can’t let him take gymnastics away from me. …

I want more than anything to make sure the next generation never goes through something like this. …

One in four girls and one in six boys will be molested before they turn 18.

Larry was decorated by USA Gymnastics, by the United States Olympic Committee — he was even named to an advisory board to come up with policies that would protect athletes from this kind of abuse! …

Read the entire statement on The Player’s Tribute.

This Is Survival

Ring pulls out of A-frame

Somehow the gymnast hung on with 1 arm.

Click PLAY or watch it on Twitter.

https://twitter.com/gym_d/status/938019480411676672

Rick Pegararo broke two rings in half over his career. But that’s the first time I’ve seen the entire cable detach.

Tim Daggett saw it once at USOTC. Coach Kelly Crumley was spotting when one of  his guys had the cable rip out entirely.

via Akiko

Canadian Gymnastics coach suspended

Former Quebec gymnasts accuse coach of sexually abusing them as minors in 1980s, ’90s

Today Michel Arsenault is a prominent competitive coach at Champions Gymnastics, Edmonton.

Champions Gymnastics:

We have just learned of the allegations published by Radio-Canada.

We take these allegations seriously and want to reassure the parents and their children who attend our gym.

Moving forward, Mr. Arsenault will not be involved in any activities at Champions Gymnastics and will not be allowed on our premises.

This decision has been taken to allow our coaching team to pursue the club’s mission to offer our athletes an environment where they will be able to flourish.

For now, we have no other comment.

McKayla Maroney – victim statement

Sports Illustrated

McKayla Maroney: Nassar ‘Deserves to Spend the Rest of His Life in Prison’

Time Person of the Year – Silence Breakers

Time magazine.

See the elbow in the right bottom corner of that photo. It’s a hospital worker from the middle of the country, who doesn’t feel that she can come forward without threatening her livelihood.

#MeToo Movement Is Person Of The Year, ‘Time’ Says

Stop to consider the courage it takes to stand up and make such a painful, personal accusation.

Our thanks to Rachael Denhollander, the first to publicly accuse Larry Nassar.

Back Bridge over a raging creek

Don’t fall, Chisa.

She was fine other than an injured pinky finger.

Eddie Van Hoof being investigated

“The suspension is not a disciplinary penalty, and indeed does not imply any assumption of guilt,” a statement said.

“British Gymnastics confirms that an independent investigation is being conducted into allegations of misconduct relating to Eddie Van Hoof, pending the outcome of which he has been suspended.”

The allegations being investigated have not been specified publicly.

BBC – Eddie van Hoof: British Gymnastics suspends coach amid investigation

I can hardly think of a National Team coach less likely to be guilty of … anything. Let’s wait on the results of this investigation.

Michigan State University and Nassar

MSU fired Nassar on Sept. 20, 2016.

Using as a guide the cost of the child molestation scandal that rocked Penn State’s football program, it could cost Michigan State University more than $1 billion to resolve lawsuits filed by the former gymnasts who were sexually assaulted by Dr. Larry Nassar. …

Incredibly, at MSU, there has been no truly independent investigation to determine just how far up the chain of command did knowledge of what was happening in the gymnastics program go. Who’s inattentiveness and possible negligence allowed Nassar to prey on children for more than 20 years?

Even the gymnastics coach, Kathie Klages, who dismissed complaints from the victims as frivolous and pressured them to stay silent, was allowed to retire and begin collecting a pension without facing criminal charges. …

Detroit News – Finley: MSU cost in gymnast abuse scandal could top $1B

 MSU has a page title Our Commitment where they comment on the Nassar case.

 

related – Lansing State Journal – Editorial: Lou Anna Simon must resign as Michigan State president

Jordyn Wieber on Nassar

… “It’s really hard to hear knowing what some of my own friends and teammates went through that. I just want to support them and be there for them.”

“Now that it’s all out in the open, there can be a lot of positive change in our sport because it is one of the greatest sports in the world, in my opinion.” …

Jordyn Wieber supports teammates and hopes for safer USA Gymnastics program

Jordyn’s back in Michigan for that interview. Of course she trained at Larry Nassar’s home club Twistars in Michigan. Nassar volunteered there for more than 20 years. Twistars gymnasts are amongst Nassar’s accusers.