When she delivered an incredibly powerful statement during Larry Nassar’s trial, Aly Raisman immediately became a vocal advocate for survivors of sexual assault. Now, the gymnast, 23, wants her voice to be heard and benefit other girls, women and athletes.
Aly is also a leader in the body positivity movement, and recently began tackling another mammoth issue: the stigma around periods in the hopes of giving other athletes confidence while training and competing at any stage of their menstrual cycle as part of a new campaign with Playtex.
In an exclusive interview with Femail, the Olympic gold medalist denounced the gender inequality that still plagues sport, addressing both the ex Team USA doctor’s decades-long reign of abuse and the culture of shame surrounding the bodies of female athletes.
Speaking outL In an exclusive interview with Femail, Aly Raisman, 23, denounced the gender inequality that still plagues sport, and addressed the Larry Nassar scandal
Survivors: Aly told Femail it has been ‘truly incredible’ to hear so many women speak up at the former doctor’s sentencing
Last month, Aly was one of many survivors who stood in court in front of her abuser, staring him down as she delivered her victim impact statement.
He has since been sentenced to up to 175 years in prison for his crimes, in addition to a separate 60-year sentence on child pornography charge, and another sentence, handed to him on Monday, of up to 125 years for molesting young gymnasts.
Aly told Femail it has been ‘truly incredible’ to hear so many women speak up at the former doctor’s sentencing.
‘I hope that everyone is listening and realizing that organizations have to stop putting money, their reputations, and medals ahead of the safety and well-being of athletes,’ she said.
‘I hope my statements, and everyone else’s, will cause USA Gymnastics and the United States Olympic Committee to conduct an independent investigation so we can understand how this happened and what changes need to be made to ensure something like this never happens again.’
Powerful: Last month, Aly was one of many survivors who stood in court in front of her abuser, staring him down as she delivered her victim impact statement
Support: Aly (pictured hugging her former teammate Jordyn Wieber in court) told Femail it has been ‘truly incredible’ to hear so many women speak up at the former doctor’s sentencing
Impact: The Olympic medalist (pictured in court in Lansing, Michigan) wants her statement to lead to an independent investigation by Gymnastics and the US Olympic Committee
In the coming months, Aly hopes to see responsible organizations held accountable ‘regardless of title or stature’.
‘All abuse and failure to handle it properly must be fully accounted for and addressed,’ she said.
‘For years, these organizations—USA Gymnastics, United States Olympic Committee, Michigan State University—put medals, reputation and money above the safety of their athletes. It’s unacceptable, and they need to take accountability.
‘This is also bigger than Nassar. We are still learning new information and need to continue to listen to each other; everyone deserves to be heard so we can fully understand the problems and everything that contributed to it.
All abuse and failure to handle it properly must be fully accounted for and addressed
‘Only then can we know what changes are needed, and only then can we believe such changes are real.’
Since speaking up during the trial, Aly has connected with other survivors, and sometimes talks to them on the phone.
‘Those are difficult phone calls,’ she told People. ‘I’ve been on the phone with some of the girls for hours, trying to calm them down and held them understand how this could have happened, even though I can’t understand it myself.’
Coming to terms with the abuse remains a work in progress for Aly, who has been doing school visits in order to teach children about speaking up if they feel they’re being victimized.
‘You never really want to say, “I was sexually abused,” but you have to process it,’ she told the magazine. ‘You can’t push it aside forever, which is what I did for a long time. I’m still processing it and coping with it.’
The gymnast, who lives outside Boston with her parents, has found solace therapy, as well as some activities that help her feel calm.
Justice: In the coming months, Aly hopes to see responsible organizations held accountable ‘regardless of title or stature’ for letting the abuse take place
Powerful: Hearing women becoming more vocal about their rights throughout 2017 and into 2018 has been ‘incredibly inspiring’ for Aly (pictured at the 2016 Rio Olympics)
Voice: Aly (pictured with her teammates Simone Biles, Gabby Douglas, Laurie Hernandez, and Madison Kocian at the Rio Olympics) has been working to educate children about abuse
‘I have a hard time sometimes before I go to sleep at night,’ she added. ‘I like to take hot baths, I read books, I love acupuncture. I just try to focus on things that make me feel really relaxed and take my mind off everything.
‘I don’t know if you every fully come to terms with what happened to you, because it’s just so complicated and uncomfortable to think about.’
While Aly stated that she loves gymnastics ‘so much’, she isn’t sure she will compete in the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, and wants to focus on ‘getting to the bottom’ of the Nassar scandal for the moment.
Hearing women becoming more vocal about their rights throughout 2017 and into 2018 has been ‘incredibly inspiring’ for Aly.
‘As women, we need to stick together and support each other to create a better future for the younger generations,’ she told Femail.
As women, we need to stick together and support each other to create a better future for the younger generations
As part of her partnership with Playtex, Aly has come up with tidbits of advice for girls looking to make an impact in sports, which have been printed on boxes of tampons available in three vending machines at athletic locations across the country.
Users can get a box of 18 tampons for free if they share their own sports advice on Instagram, with the hashtag #PlayOn.
‘We’re doing our best to help encourage girls everywhere, making sure they have the advice and tools they need to play on through their periods,’ Aly said.
The gymnast also shared her most valuable piece of advice for young female athletes, telling them: ‘It’s more important to be a good person than it is to finish in first place on the podium. At the end of the day, what matters most is how you treat those around you!’
She believes the same also applies to those looking to make a mark in other fields and industries.
‘People will always remember you for your character, and it’s important to always be kind and support others,’ Aly added.
Nautral: The gymnast, who was 18 years old during her first Olympics in London (pictured), explained that she experienced firsthand the stigma that girls on their periods often face
Challenging the secrecy: ‘It’s crazy that all females experience their periods, yet it’s often uncomfortable to talk about because of the stigma attached,’ Aly (pictured in 2012) added
The gymnast, who was 18 years old during her first Olympics in London, explained that growing up as a young athlete, she experienced firsthand the stigma that girls on their periods often face in the athletic field.
‘I was actually really excited the first time I got my period, I went to my gym and told my teammates. It wasn’t always that easy for me, though,’ she said.
‘I remember I would try to hide my tampon in the palm of my hand at practice when I had my period, because there were no pockets in my leotards.
‘Experiences like that are one of the reasons I was so excited to partner with Playtex Sport for this campaign. It’s crazy that all females experience their periods, yet it’s often uncomfortable to talk about because of the stigma attached. It’s totally normal to feel embarrassed or ashamed of your period, but I encourage everyone out there to start the conversation so we can normalize it.’
Aly now hopes Playtex’s new initiative to normalize tampons in sporting institutions will help female athletes feel more confident by challenging the stigma ‘head on’ thanks to the public vending machines.
‘It shows girls that there shouldn’t be anything embarrassing or nerve-wracking about showing people you have your period,’ she said.
‘This is so important because 75 per cent of teen girls frequently decide to not play a sport or exercise because they’re on their periods, which is a devastating statistic!’
To the women, especially young girls, who feel held back because of their gender, Aly passed on an empowering message.
‘Be confident in yourself,’ she said. ‘Your gender does not determine your strength, your power, or your worth. You can do anything you set your mind to!’