Category: sport medicine

McKayla Maroney victim statement

… It all started when I was 13 or 14 years old, at one of my first National Team training camps, in Texas, and it didn’t end until I left the sport.

It seemed whenever and wherever this man could find the chance, I was “treated.” It happened in London before my team and I won thegold medal, and It happened before I won my Silver Medal.
For me, the scariest night of my life happened when I was 15 years old. I had flown all day and night with the team to get to Tokyo. He’d given me a sleeping pill for the flight, and the next thing I know, I was all alone with himin his hotel room getting a “treatment.” I thought I was going to die that night. 
Because the National Team training camps did not allow parents to be present, my momand dad were unable to observe what Nassar was doing, and this has imposed a terrible and undeserved burden of guilt on my loving family. … 
WXYZ-TV Channel 7 Detroit
Click through to read the entire statement.

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

Russian gymnasts on the IOC ban

Aliya Mustafina‘s family is directly affected by the ban – her husband, Aleksey Zaytsev, is an Olympic hopeful in bobsleigh and two of his teammates received doping bans just last week. …

RUSSIAN GYMNASTS SPEAK OUT AGAINST THE IOC’S DECISION

Russian Olympic ban

Though I feel badly for all the innocent athletes, coaches and support officials in Russia, a penalty this severe was necessary if anti-doping is to be enforced.

IT HAS taken seven investigative reports and seven years. But at long last the International Olympic Committee (IOC) decided on December 5th to punish Russia for running a state-sponsored doping programme …

Russian athletes hoping to compete will have to do so carrying the Olympic flag and singing the Olympic anthem—if they can prove that they are clean. …

The decision is more embarrassing for Vitaly Mutko, Mr Putin’s deputy and the former minister for sport, who has been barred from the Olympics for life. Mr Mutko is also in charge of next year’s football World Cup, which Russia is hosting.  …

Economist – Russia’s overdue Olympic ban is no cure for anti-doping impotence

Russian denials, including those of Svetlana Khorkina, are mostly wrong.

Russia should quit state sponsored doping. Putin must give that order.

Photo: AFP

related – Guardian – Of course Russian sport is corrupt, but then so are the Olympics

McKayla Maroney – victim statement

Sports Illustrated

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

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.

Lauren Hopkins is thankful

Read Lauren’s very personal reflections on the Nassar crimes.

Lauren, by the way, is enjoying a non-Gymnastics holiday this weekend. 🙂

https://twitter.com/laurenhopkins96/status/934018201356206081

Nasser pleads guilty

I expect and hope Nassar will be in prison for the rest of his life.

He is expected to face at least 25 years in prison. I’m guessing there will be additional court cases in other jurisdictions adding to that sentence.

Olympic champion Aly Raisman hopes drawing attention to abuse will be her greatest legacy

What is the U.S. medical community doing to discipline criminals like Nassar?

Aly supports Gabby

This is what leadership looks like.

Gabby was also abused by Nassar

A representative for the Olympian confirmed the authenticity of the post and that Douglas says she was molested by Nassar …

…  Douglas explained why she had not joined the other accusers until now.

“I didn’t publicly share my experiences as well as many other things because for years we were conditioned to stay silent and honestly some things were extremely painful,” she wrote. “I wholeheartedly support my teammates for coming forward with what happened to them.” …

NBC