TW: Sexual Abuse/ Assault.
In 1986, Larry Nassar joined the United States Gymnastics program as an athletic trainer to their team’s medical staff. Before joining the U.S. team, he was a fairly impressive athletic trainer, taking it back to his first job years prior in 1978 as a student trainer at his high school. Once he attended college at the University of Michigan, he was studying to get his degree in kinesiology, working with the football and track team. When the U.S. team hired him, they believed it was a great decision, that they were adding a strong addition to their team. (Kirby: vox.com) Little did they know, Nassar would only bring fear, terror, and abuse.
For years, even decades, Larry Nassar was entrusted with the care, responsibility, and health of several young athletes. He used his power to manipulate hundreds of young athletes under the guise of medical treatment to sexually abuse and assault them. At a young age, anyone would feel fear and embarrassment to come forward with the accusations of their quote on quote “leader”. Luckily, some of those girls and women did have the strength to come forward. You would think that accusing the enemy for what he’d done would be enough for authorities to take the proper actions. For those girls, it only ends up leading to more pain and heartbreak.
Possibly, the worst of it all was the FBI–the people who protect and defend the US against terrorists, protect against foreign threats, uphold and enforce the criminal laws, the ones who are supposed to provide leadership and criminal justice completely failed those girls. McKayla Moroney, a member of the US team, a part of the dubbed “Fierce Five” at the 2012 Winter Olympics, had the strength to come forward with her allegations and her story of the abuse she experienced from Nassar. She recalled a night in 2015, sitting on her bedroom floor, informing the FBI of all the molestations in extreme detail. On the other line, complete silence. The FBI ended up falsifying her statement. Michael Langemen, the main FBI agent on the case, had failed to properly arrest Larry Nassar after hearing of the accusations against him and later, lied about his involvement as well. (Barrett: Washington Post)
They may not have known it at the time, but after they first heard of the charges against Larry Nassar, advocates for the women would come forward, saying as many as, if not more than 120 athletes may have been abused. For 18 consecutive years, he was the team doctor, which gave him access to hundreds of young girls and young women. (So many knew of these accusations, knew of his behavior for years, and no action was taken.(Kirby: vox.com)
Finally, after years and years of sexual abuse, in 2016, the Indianapolis Star published an investigation into USA Gymnastics and its number of sexual abuse complaints. After that publication, more and more gymnasts came forward. All it took was one voice, one voice to lead by example. One voice to see the damage that was being done. One voice to take the risk and try to serve justice where it is deserved.
The court hearing that took place this September was moving, powerful, and emotional. Listening to those women tell their stories, share their emotions, opening themselves up, completely vulnerable for millions of people to see was crushing; but they are the women we should all look up to. Imagine, years and years of sexual assault, having the strength to come forward to the FBI and being told that your abuse doesn’t count. These women took their strength, combined it together, stood their ground, and used their voice to scream for millions to hear. Nassar denied and denied the claims against him but, in the end, after all those years of accusations, justice was finally served.
Aly Raisman, Simone Biles, McKayla Maroney and Maggie Nichols were the centerpieces in the vivid and emotional testimony at their Senate hearing. Their testimonies, stories, raw emotions, and what they displayed at that testimony was not only their story, but the story of hundreds of other women who experienced the same abuse. Furthermore, they were the voice of millions of women all across the world who have experienced sexual assault from a man of “higher power”. Aly Raisman said it best during her testimony; “We are now a force, and you are nothing.” The worst of it all, is it’s not just the Nassar case. We are failing victims of sexual assault all across America. (Manning: New York Times) A conversation needs to begin, a solution needs to be formed, and this case has the power and ability to be the start of it all. We just need to start listening.