tumbling, tramp, diving, acrobatics, circus, cheer, dance, martial arts, X sports … and more
It’s far more common than we would have guessed.
… In a new survey of nearly 500 women conducted by Women’s Health and the anti–sexual violence group RAINN (the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network), 27 percent said they’d been violated by a doctor—reporting everything from lewd comments to masturbation, inappropriate touching, and even rape. …
First, Do No Harm
A preliminary settlement agreement was reached in a class action alleging that an athletic tape manufacturer included false claims on its KT Tape packaging and advertising. …
… the company deceived consumers with claims that the “kinesiology tape” would treat specific injuries, including carpal tunnel, runner’s knee, tennis elbow, plantar fasciitis, calf strain and shoulder pain. …
… in addition to the $1.75 million, KT has also agreed to modify the ways it advertises kinesiology tape, including claims that the tape “will keep you pain free,” “provides 24-hour pain relief per application,” and “for injury prevention.” …
KT TAPE MAKER REACHES $1.75M FALSE ADVERTISING CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT
Paul Ziert launched a GoFundMe fundraising campaign.
The point person for any victim will be Jessica L. Steyers, LCSW, MA, who is a licensed clinical social worker and psychotherapist specializing in the treatment of trauma. …
Ms. Steyers, a former gymnast, lives in New York City. …
related – Saving Our Survivors Facebook page
Brianne Randall:
“I was a 17-year-old that reported your abuse to police in 2004. You used my vulnerability at the time to sexually abuse me. I reported you to police immediately and had a rape kit done … you had the audacity to tell [police] I misunderstood the treatment because I wasn’t comfortable with my body. How dare you? Sadly they took your word instead of mine.”
Jordyn Wieber:
“Even though I am a victim, I won’t live my life as one. I am an Olympian.”
Mattie Larson:
“I was at the height of my career at 19 and the Olympics were just a year away and I just couldn’t take any more of the abuse. I was broken. Larry, my coaches, and USA Gymnastics turned the sport I fell in love with as a kid to my personal living hell.”
Makayla Thrush:
“Nobody should ever have to question their doctor, especially one who was the doctor for the US Olympic team.”
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.
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
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. …
No doubt many of his past colleagues are feeling the same way right now.
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. …
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
In 1997, teenage gymnast Larissa Boyce told a Michigan State University coach that she was uncomfortable with the intravaginal treatments she was getting from Larry Nassar, a MSU sports medicine doctor.
Her concerns were not only ignored, Boyce said. She was humiliated into thinking that she had unfairly maligned a well-respected doctor. …
… She is the first person known to have complained to MSU officials about Nassar, yet it took another two decades for Nassar to stop abusing patients …
In fact, Boyce said, Klages told Nassar about Boyce’s concerns, and at Boyce’s next appointment with Nassar, “pulled up a stool and said, ‘so, I talked to Kathie …”
Nassar victim describes telling MSU coach in 1997 about abuse
The MSU Board of Trustees just reaffirmed their support of President Lou Ann K. Simon.
Gymnastics Coaching.com 