tumbling, tramp, diving, acrobatics, circus, cheer, dance, martial arts, X sports … and more
It took many complaints.
Some of those complaints from the parents of gymnasts featured in the videos, but Google finally shut down Nassar’s “Gymnastics Doctor” channel the afternoon of Jan. 19th.
https://twitter.com/dishwashingg/status/954608338267860992
His two websites were still online in November. Both are gone now.
“I thought that training for the Olympics would be hardest thing I would ever have to do,” Wieber said. “But the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do is process that I’m a victim of Larry Nassar. It has caused me to feel shame and confusion and I have spent months trying to look back and wonder how I didn’t even know this was happening to me, how I became so brainwashed by Larry and everyone at USA Gymnastics, both whom I thought were on my side. He became a safe person, and was the ‘good guy’ in an intense, restricting environment.”
Jordyn trained at Geddert’s Twistars, Nassar’s home Gym.
Wieber told an Ingham County Michigan judge Friday that she too was sexually assaulted by Nassar, the first time she’s publicly revealed the abuse. …
Wieber and Raisman, along with their Olympic teammates Gabby Douglas and McKayla Maroney, have all publicly accused Nassar. The four women were part of the “Fierce Five” who won gold at the 2012 London Olympics. …
Click PLAY or watch her impact statement on YouTube.
Unrelated to the Nassar case.
Lindsey Lemke is among many women and girls who started training at Twistars when she was 7-years-old. She’s currently a senior at Michigan State University. She competes on the university’s gymnastics team.
“When I was younger, I thought I was lucky to be coached by Geddert,” she said. “He was very well known and without a doubt had the best gymnastics club in Michigan.” …
… Geddert threw things at gymnasts during practice, including water bottles, blocks and pens.
Lemke also said Geddert would tell girls straight to their face that they were fat, “some who weighed only 100 – 110 pounds,” she added. …
Christy Lemke, Lindsey’s mother, said Geddert is “known” for the physical and emotional stress he puts on athletes he trains. …
Owner of popular Twistars Gymnastics Club faces abuse allegations
Related to the Nassar case …
Twistars Gymnastics and its owner files motion to dismiss in Nassar lawsuits
Courts will decide.
8 WOMEN REPORTED ABUSE CLAIMS, AT LEAST ONE OF WHICH REACHED PRESIDENT
A former Gymnastics coach who sent more than 100 girls to be treated by Nassar was unexpectedly allow to speak on the the second day of Nassar’s sentencing in Lansing, Michigan.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
She watched him the whole time. Kyle Stephens stood in Courtroom 5 of the Veterans Memorial Courthouse, steps away from the man who molested her throughout her childhood, and she looked right at him.
Stephens decided two weeks ago to go public—to let the world know her name and see her face. But Larry Nassar needed no introduction. He has known Stephens since she was six years old …
Statements will continue all week.
To catch up on the issues I’d recommend listening to GymCastic 287: Simone and Maggie Too.
USA Gymnastics said Tuesday evening it will not pursue any money from McKayla Maroney if she speaks publicly about alleged abuse. …
Maroney, who first shared her story via Twitter, signed a nondisclosure agreement in December 2016, agreeing to stay quiet about the abuse she experienced as part of a $1.25 million settlement with USA Gymnastics, part of which she said would be used for psychological treatment. …
That’s the right thing to do … regardless of the motivations of USAG. And their lawyers.
The wrong thing to do was to enter into that agreement with McKayla in the first place.
Paul Ziert posted a response from USAG:
In 2016, McKayla Maroney’s attorney at the time, Gloria Allred, approached USA Gymnastics, requesting that the organization participate in a confidential mediation process.
The concept of confidentiality was initiated by McKayla’s attorney, not USA Gymnastics. …
The settlement was paid fully from insurance policy proceeds. The individuals in the chain of approval were: USA Gymnastics leadership (Paul Parillla, Board chair; Steve Penny, CEO); Peggy Holm, USA Gymnastics defense counsel; and a representative of the insurance carrier. …
read the full statement
To me and to everyone I’ve talked to that agreement looks like hush money.
USAG needs show evidence that the FBI directed them to stay silent. Otherwise a payoff to one athlete — especially if at cost to other victims after that payoff — is a cover-up.
Gymnastics is in the headlines everywhere.
How many parents in future are going to avoid the sport for their children, … just in case? 🙁
On the up side, children who do participate in Gymnastics should be safer. Education programs will be emphasizing coaching ethics and child safety.
The rule of two. (Or Three.) Here’s the Coaching Association of Canada version:
… calls for at least two screened and National Coaching Certification Program-certified coaches to be present with an athlete, especially a minor athlete, when the athletes is in a potentially vulnerable situation.
Of course some of the mainstream media doesn’t understand Gymnastics. But they do understand headlines.
I messaged Dr. JONATHAN LAPOOK of CBS NEWS yesterday explaining they had the headline wrong. Nassar was a doctor, never a coach.
They still hadn’t fixed their mistake as of today. No response from Lapook.
Click PLAY or watch the BBC commentator on Twitter.
Click PLAY or watch her interview on Twitter.
One positive note, USAG President Kerry Perry attended the Nassar sentencing today.
Gymnastics Coaching.com 