Gymnast Raisman says she was sexually abused by U.S. national team doctor

By: Wayne D. Ayers II

One of America’s biggest Olympic stars has come forward to accuse the former U.S. women’s gymnastics team doctor of sexual abuse. Aly Raisman, who won six medals, three of them gold, for the U.S. at the last two Olympic Summer Games, says she was sexually abused by Dr. Larry Nassar. Raisman shares her story to Dr. Jon LaPook on 60 Minutes which the full interview will be broadcast this Sunday.

Raisman, 23, says she was first treated by Dr. Nassar when she was 15. She talks about her experiences in her new best seller book called “Fierce.” It’s the story of a girl who dreamed of going to the Olympics, and how she realized her goal, but it also includes new insights into a scandal that goes to the highest level of Raisman’s sport.

Dr. Nassar, who worked with the U.S. women’s national gymnastics teams for more than two decades, is now in jail. He pleaded guilty to child pornography charges but not guilty to charges of sexual assault. More than 130 women, many of them former athletes, have filed civil lawsuits alleging that Nassar sexually abused them under the guise of treating them for hip, back, and other athletic injuries. Raisman tells 60 Minutes that after the Rio Olympics she spoke to FBI investigators about Dr. Nassar

Aly Raisman is the most prominent athlete to come forward so far about Nassar. She is calling for major changes at USA Gymnastics, the national governing body for her sport.

Raisman says a lot of people have asked her why Nassar’s accusers didn’t speak up sooner. 

RAISMAN: Why are we looking at why didn’t the girls speak up? Why not look at what about the culture? What did USA Gymnastics do, and Larry Nassar do, to manipulate these girls so much that they are so afraid to speak up?

Going forward in society we need to stop criticizing women for when they speak out about this situation. They can share their experiences anytime they want it could be in 5 days or in 20 years. Nobody wants to speak out if they are going to receive backlash for it. Instead of giving them backlash we have to give them our support.

JON LAPOOK: You’re angry.

RAISMAN: 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.

In a statement to 60 Minutes, USA Gymnastics said it has made major changes since the Nassar scandal broke. The organization says it recently adopted a new “safe sport policy” that requires “mandatory reporting” of suspicions of sexual abuse and also sets standards to “prevent inappropriate interaction” between athletes and adults.  “USA Gymnastics is very sorry that any athlete has been harmed…” the statement says, “…we want to work with Aly and all interested athletes to keep athletes safe.”

USA Gymnastics need to do a better job you got the best in the world competing for you and you have to compete for them back. These events can’t happen you have parents trusting you with their children so step up and look after these kids.