It is the dream of many young athletes to one day make it to the Olympics, but in the end that is a feat only a handful manage to achieve in their lives.
Aly Raisman, McKayla Maroney, Jordyn Wieber and Jamie Dantzscher are among the very select few who not only made it to the Olympics but also took home a medal, proving to be the best of the best in the gymnastics world.
That accomplishment pales in comparison to what those four women and 85 others did in a Michigan courtroom this week however, as they faced their abuser and former doctor Larry Nassar.
The women were composed, steely and refused to buckle under pressure as they delivered powerful statements detailing the impact Nassar’s sexual abuse has had on them over the years.
It was an inspiring and emotional display by these women, who in using their voices to speak out about their abuse once again made their country proud.
And there are more statements to come, with 31 victims set to testify next week beginning on Monday.
Judge Rosemarie Aquilina is then expected to announce Nassar’s sentence on Tuesday.
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Making her mark: Aly Raisman delivered a powerful victim impact statement on Friday, speaking at time on behalf of all the woman abused by Larry Nassar
Breaking her silence: Jordyn Wieber was the first person to speak during day four of Larry Nassar’s sentencing on Friday, revealing she was a victim of the doctor for the first time
Coward: Larry Nassar once again hid behind his hands for much of the proceedings on Friday (above)
FRIDAY
Raisman reclaimed her power and eviscerated Nassar as she stared down the pedophile doctor and delivered a remarkable impact statement on Friday.
The six-time Olympic medalist turned heads earlier in the day when she made a surprise appearance at the Michigan court where Nassar is being sentenced, just before the hearing was to start.
She entered the courtroom with another surprise guest, fellow Fierce Five teammate Jordyn Wieber, who grew up in the area and was just 8 when she began working with Nassar.
‘I am here to face you, Larry, so you can see I’ve regained my strength,’ said Raisman.
‘That I am no longer a victim. I am a survivor.’
Raisman shed not a single tear and showed no sign of weakness as she spoke, looking right at Nassar the entire time.
‘I didn’t think I would be here today,’ said Raisman, who had previously announced her statement would be read in court by a member of the district attorney’s office.
‘I was scared and nervous. It wasn’t until I listened to the other brave survivors that I realized I needed to be here.’
She did not detail her abuse, and said only that Nassar’s grooming began when the two were in Australia, and that she was eventually manipulated into believing that the doctor’s ‘inappropriate touch would heal my pain.’
I am here to face you Larry so you can see I’ve regained my strength. That I’m no longer a victim, I’m a survivor. I am no longer that little girl you met in Australia, where you first began grooming and manipulating. As for your letter yesterday, you are pathetic to think that anyone would have any sympathy for you. You think this is hard for you? Imagine how all of us feel.
-Aly Raisman, 23 (Jan. 19)
Raisman knows better now she said in her statement.
‘You never healed me. You took advantage of our passions and our dreams,’ said Raisman.
‘Imagine feeling like you have no power, and no voice. Well you know what Larry, I have my power and my voice,and I will use them.’
Raisman also used her time in court to speak on behalf of all the victims in the case.
‘The tables have turned, Larry. We are here. We have our voices, and we are not going anywhere, said Raisman.
‘And now, Larry, it’s your turn to listen to me.’
Raisman proceeded to call Nassar ‘pathetic,’ among other things, for the letter he sent the judge earlier this week complaining about the toll these impact statements were taking on his mental health.
‘You are pathetic to think that anyone would have any sympathy for you. You think this is hard for you? Imagine how all of us feel,’ Raisman told Nassar.
When she had finished, Judge Rosemarie Aquilina shared a few words with the brave survivor.
‘You were never the problem, but you are so much the solution,’ said Judge Aquilina.
‘You are unstoppable. You are part of an unstoppable growing force, an unstoppable, strong, loud voice. The effects of your voice are far-reaching. It’s not just in this courtroom, but worldwide.’
Judge Aquilina then told Raisman: ‘You’re one of the strongest survivors I have ever seen.’
Raisman and Wieber spent the entire day in the courtroom, returning after lunch in a show of support for the other women who were sharing their stories that day.
Triumph: Raisman hugs her mother Lynn after delivering her statement on Friday (above)
Proud: ‘Even though I’m a victim, I do not and will not live my life as one. I am an Olympian,’ said Wieber
It was Wieber who walked to the podium to start the day, revealing for the first time that she was one of the many young women who was sexually assaulted by Larry Nassar.
Wieber fought back tears as she addressed her abuser, who as he has done for the past few days hid his hands.
‘I thought that training for the Olympics would be the hardest thing I would ever had to do,’ said Wieber.
I thought that training for the Olympics would be the hardest thing I would ever had to do. But in fact, the hardest thing I ever had to do was process that I was a victim of Larry Nassar.
-Jordyn Wieber, 22 (Jan. 19)
‘But in fact, the hardest thing I ever had to do was process that I was a victim of Larry Nassar.’
‘It has caused me to feel shame and confusion,’ said Wieber of her abuse when she took the podium at the start of the day.
‘I have spent months trying to think back on my experience and wonder how I didn’t know what was happening to me and how I became so brainwashed by Larry Nassar and everyone at USA Gymnastics. Both whom I thought were supposed to be on MY side.’
Wieber, as many women have done before her this week, noted that Nassar was not the only person who should be held accountable for these horrifying acts.
‘Larry Nassar is accountable. USA Gymnastics is accountable. The U.S. Olympic Committee is accountable,’ said Wieber.
‘My teammates and friends have been through enough and now it’s time for change. The current gymnasts should not have to live in anxiety and fear as I did.’
Wieber, 22, later told the court that her abuse began when she was 14, and went on for years, stating: ‘He did it time after time, appointment after appointment.’
She later noted: ‘The worst part is I had no idea he was sexually abusing me.’
High price: ‘I thought that training for the Olympics would be the hardest thing I would ever had to do,’ said Wieber
Still going: Raisman seemed intent on making sure that Nassar saw her and the other victims in court
Brave young woman: Chelsea, who is just 15, followed Wieber in court on Friday with her mother by her side (above)
Sisters: ‘Today, I am a 15-year-old girl, and throughout my years in high school I’ve struggled. For the longest time, you deprived me of my happiness,’ said Maddie (right with parents and sister Kara on left)
Wieber also said that she, Raisman and McKayla Maroney discussed the concerns they all had with Nassar’s treatment, before revealing that all three kept quiet because they did not want to jeopardize their spot on the Olympic team.
‘Was Larry even doing anything to help my pain? Was I getting the proper medical care? What was he thinking about when he massaged my sore muscles every day?’ asked Wieber.
‘Now, I question everything.’
Even at the pinnacle of her career has been tarnished because of Nassar, with Wieber revealing: ‘Our bodies were all hanging by a thread in London. Who was the doctor that USAG sent? The doctor who was our abuser.’
This is all your fault, we wouldn’t be here in the first place if it wasn’t for you. You are a coward and a sickening man. You did this to me. You’re the one causing all this pain I am a survivor. Here I am today, facing my abuser. I’m finally being heard. I’m no longer hiding my story.
– Chelsea, 15 (Jan. 19)
Wieber is working to move past her abuse she said, and is refusing to let what Nassar did to her define her life.
‘Even though I’m a victim, I do not and will not live my life as one,’ said Wieber.
‘I am an Olympian.’
Wieber then made a point of stating that her Olympic title carries no weight in this trial.
‘I want everyone, especially the media, to know that despite my athletic achievements, I am one of over 140 women and survivors whose story is important,’ said Wieber.
‘Our pain is all the same, and our stories are all important.
Wieber was followed by Chelsea , who at just 15 was the youngest victim to appear in court this week.
She was abused by Nassar three years ago.
She appeared with her mother as she is a minor, and bravely delivered her tearful statement.
Chelsea said that she tore a muscle in her stomach when she was 12 and went to see Nassar, noting at one point how he told her to wear loose shorts so that he could have easier access to her body.
‘It’s so sickening that he did that to me,’ said Chelsea.
Chelsea went on to call Nassar a ‘monster,’ and revealed that her love for gymnastics almost disappeared because of his abuse.
‘This is all your fault, we wouldn’t be here in the first place if it wasn’t for you,’ said the teenager.
‘You are a coward and a sickening man. You did this to me. You’re the one causing all this pain.’
She closed out her statement by saying: ‘I am a survivor. Here I am today, facing my abuser. I’m finally being heard. I’m no longer hiding my story.’
She then asked Judge Aquilina that Nassar receive the maximum sentence.
Powerful words: The victim impact statement written by McKayla Maroney was read in court on Thursday by Angela Povilaitis
No smiles: ‘I remember your obnoxious laugh,’ said Jamie Dantzscher. ‘I don’t see you laughing now.’
No words: Maroney, 22, said one night in Tokyo she woke up after Nassar gave her a sleeping pill and felt like she was oing to die as he sexually assaulted her (Nassar above on Thursday)
THURSDAY
Day three of the sentencing kicked off on a strange note Thursday, with the disgraced doctor submitting a letter to the court.
Nassar wrote in the letter that Judge Rosemarie Aquilina was conducting a ‘four-day media circus’ for her own gain, and claimed that ‘listening to impact statements is detrimental to his mental health.’
Fifty women had delivered victim impact statements at that point, with another 55 scheduled to speak at that time.
New women had begun calling the district attorney’s office to add their names to the list however that same day.
‘She wants me to sit in the witness box next to her for all four days so the media cameras will be directed toward her,’ Nassar wrote in his six-page, single-spaced complaint.
Judge Aquilina, who has spent all four days this week individually addressing each victim after they delivered their statements in court, did the same for Nassar in the wake of his comments.
She began with a bit of a caveat however, explaining: ‘I am not a therapist. But if I was, I would not be yours.’
Judge Aquilina did show some empathy as well for the convicted child molester, responding to Nassar’s claim that he twice passed out before his federal sentencing back in December by saying: ‘I’m sorry about that, sir. I wish you well.’
You may find it harsh that you are here listening. But nothing is as harsh than what your victims endured for thousands of hours at your hands. Spending four or five days listening to them is significantly minor considering the hours of pleasure you’ve had at their expense and ruining their lives.
-Judge Rosemarie Aqilina (Jan. 18)
In the end however, there was little empathy to be had for the predator.
‘This isn’t worth the paper it’s written on, there’s no truth in there, it’s delusional,’ said Judge Aquilina, who pointed out that Nassar signed off on this when he accepted a plea deal.
‘I didn’t orchestrate this, you did,’ she reminded Nassar.
Judge Aquilina also referred to his words as ‘mumbo jumbo’ during her ten-minute response to Nassar’s mental health concerns, before pointing out that he got off easier than the women in that courtroom.
‘You may find it harsh that you are here listening. But nothing is as harsh than what your victims endured for thousands of hours at your hands,’ said Judge Aquilina.
‘Spending four or five days listening to them is significantly minor considering the hours of pleasure you’ve had at their expense and ruining their lives.’
She then noted: ‘None of this should come as a surprise to you.
Nassar then got even more bad news when Judge Aquilina reminded him that 125 women were offered the chance to speak and said she would extend the hearing for as long as it took for each of those victims to deliver their impact statements.
Judge Aquilina also found some time for humor while addressing Nassar’s complaint as well, with the serial predator sitting silently in the witness stand as she spoke.
‘Now this is entertaining to me,’ she said at one point, before reading from Nassar’s letter.
‘Aquilina said if I pass out she’ll have the EMTs revive me and prop me up in the witness box.’
The judge took a beat and paused before looking at Nassar and saying: ‘I suspect you have watched too much television. It’s delusional. You need to talk about these issues with a therapist and that’s not me.’
She then moved on to his next grievance, reading: ‘Aquilina is allowing them all to talk. She wants me to sit in the witness box next to her for all four days so the media cameras will be directed at her.’
Judge Aquilina looked at Nassar in disbelief, before responding: ‘I don’t have a dog in this fight, sir. I didn’t want even one victim to lose their voice.’
It was also revealed while Judge Aquilina was going through the letter that court adjourned early on Wednesday so Nassar could receive treatment from mental health professionals.
Where to begin: Judge Aquilina then spent ten minutes responding to the six-page, single-spaced complaint
Dumb: Larry Nassar (above on Thursday with his lawyer) said in a letter submitted to Judge Rosemarie Aquilina on Thursday that ‘listening to impact statements is detrimental to his mental health’
Olympian Jamie Dantzscher was the first to speak on Thursday, with the member of the 2000 team that went to Sydney looking right at her abuser.
‘Dr. Nassar is no doctor at all, I’ll refer to him as Larry,’ she said to start.
‘I remember your obnoxious laugh and how you would slurp the drool off your lip,’ recalled the Bronze-medalist at one point.
‘I don’t see you laughing now.’
She declined to detail her abuse however, and explained her reason.
‘I’m not going to say everything you did to me because I know a sick bastard like you will enjoy hearing it,’ said Dantzscher.
Dantzscher did describe the aftermath of the abuse though, saying: ‘I struggled with anorexia, bulimia, and depression so severe that I was hospitalized for attempting suicide.’
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 the Gold medal, and It happened before I won my Silver Medal.’ The statement continued: ‘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 him in his hotel room getting a ‘treatment.’ I thought I was going to die that night.
-McKayla Maroney, 22 (Jan. 18)
Then, she let Nassar have it, saying: ‘How f***ing dare you say “sorry” for all you’ve done. We all see through your bulls*** now. You’re a pathetic monster who’s only sorry he got caught.’
A few hours later, McKayla Maroney finally got her day in court.
The Gold-medal winning gymnast was not in attendance, and so it fell to Angela Povilaitis from the district attorney’s office to deliver Maroney’s powerful words.
‘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,’ wrote Maroney of her abuse.
‘It seemed whenever and wherever this man could find the chance, I was “treated.” It happened in London before my team and I won the Gold medal, and It happened before I won my Silver Medal.’
The statement continued: ‘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 him in his hotel room getting a “treatment.” I thought I was going to die that night.’
Maroney also made a point of calling out those who let Nassar thrive for so long.
‘How could have Larry Nassar been allowed to assault so many women and girls for more than two decades?’ she asked.
‘The answer to that question lies in the failure of not one, but three major institutions to stop him — Michigan State University, USA Gymnastics and the United States Olympic Committee.’
She went on to say that these organizations had the power to stop Nassar, but chose to do nothing.
‘A simple fact is this. If Michigan State University, USA Gymnastics and the US Olympic Committee had paid attention to any of the red flags in Larry Nassar’s behavior I never would have met him, I never would have been “treated” by him, and I never would have been abused by him,’ wrote Maroney.
Then, just like her Fierce Five teammate Aly Raisman did earlier this week, Maroney made it clear that she wanted to see some accountability from the doctor’s enablers.
‘It is time to hold the leadership of Michigan State University, USA Gymnastics and the United States Olympic Committee accountable for allowing, and in some cases enabling, his crimes,’ said Maroney.
‘Our silence has given the wrong people power for too long, and it’s time to take our power back.’
Second time: The second day of the sentencing hearing for Larry Nassar began on Wednesday (Thomas Brennan and victim Gwen Anderson in court on Wednesday)
WEDNESDAY
Multiple victims came forward on day two to deliver scathing indictments of the disgraced doctor, revealing the damage he had done with his years of sexual abuse.
It was not just the female victims who spoke in court either, with Judge Aquilina offering Thomas Brennan a chance to deliver his own impact statement.
Breannan was in the courtroom to support victim Gwen Anderson, and erupted in the middle of the young woman’s tearful statement when he saw that Nassar was hiding his face.
‘Look at her!’ Brennan screamed at Nassar, as tears rolled down Anderson’s face.
He then leaned in to the microphone as he and Anderson returned to their seats, saying: ‘For the record, go to hell.’
I have a different relationship with Larry from the standpoint that I was a coach for many years. I’m also an exercise physiologist. When I graduated from grad school, he was an advisor of mine, he’s been a mentor of mine. I’ve done clinics with him for years in the past. And I’ve probably sent well over 100 kids to him over the years. So the guilt I feel for that is hard to fathom.’ Brennan continued: ‘So, he didn’t only deceive these girls, which is honest to god, that’s the worst of the worst, is what he did to these girls, so they have the voice. But what you did to everybody else who trusted you and sent girls your way is disgusting. Reprehensible. Unforgivable. That’s all I’ve got to say.
-Thomas Brennan (Jan. 17)
That is when Judge Aquilinia asked him to return to the podium, not to chide him for the outburst but rather to see if he had anything else to say.
‘Anything else you’d like to say?’ asked Judge Aquilina.
‘Me?’ responded Brennan.
‘You. You’re here sir. You spoke out. I’m allowing you an opportunity. You seem to have a few things you would like to say that I think the world probably wants to hear. So do I.’
Brennan paused for a moment and then proceeded to deliver his own powerful speech touching upon the guilt he felt as a result of Nassar’s abuse.
‘I have a different relationship with Larry from the standpoint that I was a coach for many years. I’m also an exercise physiologist,’ revealed Brennan.
‘When I graduated from grad school, he was an advisor of mine, he’s been a mentor of mine. I’ve done clinics with him for years in the past. And I’ve probably sent well over 100 kids to him over the years. So the guilt I feel for that is hard to fathom.’
Brennan continued: ‘So, he didn’t only deceive these girls, which is honest to god, that’s the worst of the worst, is what he did to these girls, so they have the voice. But what you did to everybody else who trusted you and sent girls your way is disgusting. Reprehensible. Unforgivable. That’s all I’ve got to say.’
Then, just as she has done with every single person who has stepped up to deliver a victim impact statement throughout the trial, Judge Aquilina had a few powerful and encouraging words of her own for Brennan.
‘Sir, thank you very much for speaking up,’ said Judge Aquilina.
‘I hear that guilt that you feel and probably so many who brought girls to him have the same voice, sentiment that you do. But again, I truly appreciate there not being any blame on anyone who should not take the blame as well.’
She continued: ‘There is no girl who was assaulted who is blaming you or anybody else. Thankfully the blame lies solely with the defendant.’
Disdain: ‘You actually are not a real doctor. You’re not a doctor at all. You’re a serial child molester. A pedophile,’ said Gwen Nichols
Told foo: Then, as he and Anderson returned to the gallery, Brennan leaned into the microphone at the podium and said to Nassar (above on Wednesday): ‘For the record, go to hell’
Anderson used her time in front of the court to take back her power.
‘I didn’t want to go public because I was scared that my students would see me at my weakest moments, that they’d see me as a victim,’ said Anderson.
‘But I’ve come to realize that this is not my weakest moment. This is my moment of strength.’
The middle school teacher also said that because of her job she is reminded every single day how young and defenseless she and the other victims were at the time.
‘I still can’t think about it. We were just kids. We were just kids,’ said Anderson.
It wasn’t just Larry it was all the people, all the people. Including USA Gymnastics, and I see that you’re representing them there [looking at new president Kerry Perry]. They’re accountable. They are accountable. And I don’t want to hear any more statements from everybody else, ‘we’re doing this and we’re doing that, we have a safer place now.’ It’s too late now.’
-Gina Nichols, mother of national team member of Maggie (Jan. 17)
The day began with the mother of national team member Maggie Nichols reading the impact statement her daughter released last week before saying a few words of her own to Nassar.
‘A real doctor helps heal,’ said Gina Nichols while staring down Nassar.
‘He doesn’t hurt. You actually are not a real doctor. You’re not a doctor at all. You’re a serial child molester. A pedophile.’
She also made a point of turning around to address the head of USA Gymnastics, saying: ‘It wasn’t just Larry it was all the people, all the people.’
Gina continued: ‘Including USA Gymnastics, and I see that you’re representing them there [looking at new president Kerry Perry]. They’re accountable. They are accountable. And I don’t want to hear any more statements from everybody else, “we’re doing this and we’re doing that, we have a safer place now.”‘
She then stated: ‘It’s too late now.’
Perry was later joined in court by the head of Michigan State University President Lou Ann K. Simon, who was absent from the proceedings on Tuesday.
The university has also been criticized for allowing Nassar’s behavior to go unreported for so long.
‘You convinced my parents that I was a liar. That you didn’t strategically place lotion in the basement so you could beat your penis while I hid. But I still get sick at the smell of that lotion,’ said Stephens
Kyle Stephens (above), a victim of former Team USA doctor Larry Nassar, gives her victim impact statement during the sentencing hearing
TUESDAY
Nassar’s hearing began with an emotional and powerful impact statement from Kyle Stephens.
She revealed she was sexually abused by the disgraced gymnastics doctor from the age of six to 12.
Stephens told the court he would pleasure himself in front of her, insert his finger in her vagina and rub his erect penis on her body.
Throughout her entire statement she looked directly at Nassar, who covered his face and cried, and revealed that when she was 12 she told her parents about the abuse.
Nassar convinced her mother and father that she was lying, said Stephens, who revealed herself for the first time on Tuesday after being known only as ‘Victim ZA’ in court papers.
Little girls don’t stay little forever. They turn into strong women who return to destroy your world.
-Kyle Stephens, 22 (Jan. 16)
Stephens said on Tuesday that when her father learned the truth about what had happened he took his own life.
‘Little girls don’t stay little forever,’ said Stephens.
‘They turn into strong women who return to destroy your world.’
Nassar hid his face behind his hands the entire time, never once looking at his victim.
‘After my parents confronted you, they brought you back to my house to speak with me. Sitting on my living room couch I listened to you tell me that no one should ever do that, and if they do, you should tell someone,’ said Stephens.
‘Well Larry, I’m here. Not to tell someone, but to tell everyone.’
She then listed all the abuses she endured at the hands of Nassar, who entered a guilty plea to charges stemming from his assault of Stephens back in November.
‘You convinced my parents that I was a liar. That you didn’t strategically place lotion in the basement so you could beat your penis while I hid. But I still get sick at the smell of that lotion,’ said Stephens.
‘You convinced my parents that you didn’t pull my feet into your lap, unzip your pants, and rub your erect penis against my bare skin. But I still flinch when my feet are near someone’s lap.’
She then closed out by stating: ‘You convinced my parents that you didn’t stick your fingers up my adolescent vagina. But I knew, when it came time to use my first tampon that my hymen wasn’t intact.’
Donna Markham (above) spoke about how her daughter Chelsy began abusing drugs in the wake of Nassar’s abuse and later committed suicide at the age of 23
He rests his head in his hands as one woman after another told the court about their horrifying experience at his hands
The courtroom was completely silent while Stephens held back her tears and continued to look directly at Nassar’s obscured face.
‘You used my body for six years for your own sexual gratification. That is unforgivable,’ said Stephens.
‘I’ve been coming for you a long time. I’ve told counselors your name in hope that they would report you, I have reported you to Child Protective Services twice, I gave a testament to get your medical license revoked.’
Later in the day, Judge Aqualina addressed victim Annette Hill after she spoke about how even as an adult with children of her own she considered taking her own life because of what happened to her years ago with Nassar.
Every day I miss her. Every day. And it all started with him. It all started with him, and it just became worse as the years went by until she just couldn’t deal with it anymore.
-Donna Markham, whose daughter Chelsy took her life at 23 (Jan. 16)
‘I think about suicide to turn off the thoughts,’ said Hill, bursting into tears.
‘With suicide, he wins,’ she told Hill.
‘He will not win, please stay with us.’
That will not be the case for Donna Markham, who brought most in the courtroom to tears revealing how her daughter Chelsy informed her at the age of 12 that Nassar had put his ungloved fingers into her vagina.
Chelsy later began to abuse drugs, which her mother believes was a direct consequence the abuse she suffered while ebing treated by Nassat.
Then, in 2009, she took her own life. She was just 23.
‘Every day I miss her. Every day. And it all started with him. It all started with him, and it just became worse as the years went by until she just couldn’t deal with it anymore,’ said Markham while weeping in court.
Victims: Nassar abused at least four members of the Fierce Five (l to r: Raisman, Maroney, Douglas and Wieber with their all-around team Gold in 2012)
CONTROVERSIES AND NEW DEVELOPMENTS
There had been concern that Maroney might not be able to share her statement without incurring a $100,000 fine as part of her 2016 settlement with USA Gymnastics which included a NDA that Maroney is now challenging in a lawsuit.
That all changed however thanks to massive public support for the gymnast after model and cookbook author Chrissy Teigen posted a DailyMail.com headline on her Twitter account on Tuesday.
After reading that McKayla could be forced to pay USA Gymnastics for breaking her silence, Teigen said she would cover the expense for the sexual abuse victim.
That ultimately shamed the group into announcing its sudden change of heart.
‘USA Gymnastics has not sought and will not seek any money from McKayla Maroney for her brave statements made in describing her victimization and abuse by Larry Nassar, nor for any victim impact statements she wants to make to Larry Nassar at this hearing or at any subsequent hearings related to his sentencing,’ the organization said in a statement on Tuesday night.
‘This has been her right and USA Gymnastics encourages McKayla and anyone who has been abused to speak out. USA Gymnastics remains focused on our highest priority — the safety, health and well-being of our athletes and creating a culture that empowers and supports them.’
Maroney, who was a member of the squad who took home Gold at the 2012 London Games, revealed in a lawsuit filed last month that she received $1.25 million from the organization in December 2016.
The two-time world-champion vaulter agreed to sign a non-disclosure agreement as part of the deal, which imposes a $100,000 fine should she ever speak about Nassar or the abuse she suffered at the heads of the disgraced doctor.
Maroney, who was represented by Gloria Allred when she accepted that settlement, said that she was in desperate need of the money due to her deteriorating psychological state and need for treatment as a result of the abuse she suffered at the hands of Nassar.
She said at one point she was even thought about taking her own life.
Wieber’s decision to come forward was applauded by Judge Rosemarie Aquilina, who for the fourth straight day continued to address each victim after they spoke in court.
She told the young woman that despite her wish to play down her fame, what she did in court on Friday would inspire countless other young girls and women.
Wieber is retired from competitive gymnastics and now coaches the team at UCLA, where one of her athletes is fellow Fierce Five member Kyla Ross.
She is now the fourth member of the five-person London squad to reveal she was assaulted by Nassar, following Maroney, Raisman and Gabby Douglas.
Maroney had her impact statement read in court on Thursday and Raisman is expected to deliver her thoughts on Nassar later in the day on Friday.
Simone Biles, a member of the 2016 Rio team, also came forward to reveal she was one of Nasar’s victims earlier this week.
Maroney revealed in a lawsuit filed last month that she received $1.25 million from the organization in December 2016.
The two-time world-champion vaulter agreed to sign a non-disclosure agreement as part of the deal, which imposes a $100,000 fine should she ever speak about Nassar or the abuse she suffered at the heads of the disgraced doctor.
Maroney, who was represented by Gloria Allred when she accepted that settlement, said that she was in desperate need of the money due to her deteriorating psychological state and need for treatment as a result of the abuse she suffered at the hands of Nassar.
She said at one point she was even thought about taking her own life.
Maroney is now suing USA Gymnastics – with her legal team arguing that it was illegal for the organization to have her sign a clause demanding her silence about her molestation.
A number of victims have also criticized Michigan State University these past four days.
The school was Nassar’s employer until September 2016, and failed to report a number of concerns about the doctor to authorities.
The university’s board of trustees acknowledged that criticism Friday, asking Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette to conduct an outside review of its actions.
‘We are making this request because we believe your review may be needed to answer the public’s questions concerning MSU’s handling of the Nassar situation,’ the trustees said in a letter to Schuette.
‘These questions grew louder this week with the victim impact statements.’