Content Warning: Mentions of Sexual Assault.
Every four years, the world unites to celebrate athleticism. The Olympic Games attract billions of viewers, eager to root for their home countries. According to statistics, the most watched Olympic Coverage is artistic gymnastics, specifically women’s artistic gymnastics. The sport takes the potential of the human body to new heights, literally. I have so many memories of watching the USA gymnasts over the years, and while we don’t share athletic abilities, I relate to their girlhood and youth. This begins the problem. In 2016, Larry Nassar, a USA gymnastics doctor, was arrested. Nassar was charged with the possession of child pornography and sexual assault of over 265 girls and women from US Olympic and national teams under the guise of medical care. How did this happen? How did the United States Gymnastics Organization fail to protect these athletes who brought home medals and fame? The truth is sickening.
Established in 1963, USA Gymnastics presently represents 200,000 athletes. Prior to the Nassar scandal, USA gymnastics had a pure, positive global image. High-profile companies were privy to this, as evidenced by the multitude of sponsorships and advertisements. From cereal boxes to tampons, the USA gymnasts were everywhere. As the girls and young women progressed in gymnastics and advertising, their mental and physical state remained unquestioned. I believe this lapse of judgment can be attributed to the their mature athletic abilities, which made them appear older and more capable.
In 2015, elite gymnast Maggie Nicolos was ready for the upcoming Rio Olympics. For reference, she often finished in competition right behind Simone Biles, the future goat. At training camp, Nicolos was sexually abused and groomed by Larry Nassar. Nicolos recognized her medical treatment as abuse and reported it to the USA Gymnastics Committee. Nicolos’ claims were ignored until numerous other team members came forward. "After I reported my abuse to USAG, my family and I were told by their former president, Steve Penny, to keep quiet and not say anything that could hurt the FBI investigation," Nichols said. "We now know there was no real FBI investigation occurring." The Department of Justice has since revealed that the FBI made false statements and ignored hundreds of allegations, showing how USA Gymnastics created an environment that prioritized status over safety. The abusive nature of USA Gymnastics was evidenced when Maggie Nicholes was denied her rightful place on the 2016 Olympic Team.
In 2017, Nassar was sentenced to life in prison and the US Justice Department has since paid 138.7 million dollars to survivors of Nassar’s abuse. The justice served by the legal system is comforting. That being said, this should never have been a trial. The suppression and abuse conducted by USA Gymnastics produced medals, but at what cost? What the USA gymnasts have endured is a shameful, dark stain on American history. Going forward, the mental and physical health of these elite athletes must be the top priority.
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