One More Olympic Gymnast Alleges Abuse By Team Doctor

Aly Raisman is a six-time Olympic media winner in gymnastics. She has come out and said that she was sexually assaulted by a doctor who works for USA Gymnastics. She has also written about her experiences in a book called ‘Fierce’. Se writes about how Dr Larry Nassar assaulted her, starting from when she was 15. He has had a slew of charges against him and has even pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography. Nasser is awaiting his sentencing. As many as 130 women have accused him.

"I am angry. I’m really upset because it’s been — I care a lot you know, when I see these young girls that come up to me, and they ask for pictures or autographs, whatever it is, I just — I can’t. Every time I look at them, every time I see them smiling, I just think — I just want to create change so that they never, ever have to go through this,”  Raisman has said.

“I was brainwashed to believe I was fine,” she said, calling him a master manipulator.

“I would lie on the table, my hands involuntarily balling themselves into fists as his ungloved hands worked their way under my clothing.Treatment sessions; with him always made me feel tense and uncomfortable.”

"I would grit my teeth trying to convince myself that all this was part of the healing process. The truth was he never made my injuries feel any better, but I always obeyed because he had a reputation for being the best doctor,” Raisman writes in her book

USA Gymnastics has apologised for Nasser's behaviour in a statement. It says that it has implemented mandatory reporting of suspicions of sexual abuse.

Another Olympic gymnast McKayla Maroney said that the former USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar molested her when she was 13 years old.  She said that he abused her under the guise of medically unnecessary treatment which began when she was 13. He was still abusing her while she performed in the 2012 London Olympics. The abuse ended when she left gymnastics in 2016.

Also Read: Former US Gymnast Says She Was Abused By Team Doctor

Picture Credit: Glamour