USA Gymnastics sex abuse scandal

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The USA Gymnastics sex abuse scandal relates to the sexual abuse of hundreds of gymnasts—primarily minors—over two decades in the United States, starting in the 1990s. It is considered the largest sexual abuse scandal in sports history.[1][2][3][4]

More than 500 athletes alleged that they were sexually assaulted by gym owners, coaches, and staff working for gymnastics programs across the country, including USA Gymnastics (USAG) and Michigan State University (MSU).[5][6][7] Hundreds of them sued USAG, MSU, and the United States Olympic Committee (USOC, later USOPC), which settled the suits in 2018 and 2021 for a total of nearly $900 million.[8][9][10][5]

The breadth of the abuses was first revealed by The Indianapolis Star, which reported in September 2016 that "predatory coaches were allowed to move from gym to gym, undetected by a lax system of oversight, or dangerously passed on by USA Gymnastics-certified gyms".[11] Coaches and officials perpetrated, facilitated, or worked to conceal abuse in Michigan, Pennsylvania, California, Rhode Island, Indiana, and elsewhere.[11]

FBI agents declined to investigate early allegations of abuse, then lied about it, according to a U.S. Justice Department report.

Dozens of officials at USAG, MSU, and the United States Olympic Committee (USOC, later USOPC) ultimately resigned under pressure or was fired. Several coaches and officials faced criminal charges, though few were convicted.[12]

A central figure was Larry Nassar, a national-team doctor for USAG and osteopathic physician in MSU's athletic department. More than 265 women said Nassar had sexually abused them under the pretense of providing medical treatment,[13] including former USAG national team members Jessica Howard, Jamie Dantzscher, Morgan White, Jeanette Antolin, McKayla Maroney, Aly Raisman, Maggie Nichols, Gabby Douglas, Simone Biles, Jordyn Wieber, Sabrina Vega, Ashton Locklear, Kyla Ross, Madison Kocian, Amanda Jetter, Tasha Schwikert, Mattie Larson, Bailie Key, Kennedy Baker, Alyssa Baumann, and Terin Humphrey. In 2017 and 2018, Nassar pleaded guilty to federal charges of child pornography and state charges of first-degree sexual assault; he received sentences of 60 years in prison plus another 80 to 300 years.

The scandal led to the Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse and Safe Sport Authorization Act of 2017, which directed the creation of the U.S. Center for SafeSport.

  1. ^ Macur, Juliet (January 19, 2018). "Who Has U.S.A. Gymnastics' Back at This Point? The U.S.O.C., for Some Reason". The New York Times. Archived from the original on April 7, 2023.
  2. ^ Park, Alice (January 22, 2018). "USA Gymnastics Board Members Resign Amid Larry Nassar Sexual Abuse Scandal". Time. Archived from the original on May 2, 2018. Retrieved January 23, 2018.
  3. ^ Graham, Bryan Armen (December 16, 2017). "Why don't we care about the biggest sex abuse scandal in sports history?". The Guardian. Archived from the original on May 3, 2021. Retrieved January 23, 2018.
  4. ^ Parke, Caleb (November 30, 2017). "Michigan State accused of covering up worst sex abuse scandal in US sports". Fox News. Archived from the original on July 11, 2018. Retrieved January 23, 2018.
  5. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference :2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Messman, Lauren (December 15, 2016). "New Report Reveals 20-Year Sex Abuse Scandal Across US Gymnastics Programs". Vice. Archived from the original on March 30, 2019. Retrieved February 17, 2018. At least 368 child gymnasts have alleged sexual assault by gym owners, coaches, and staff working for top gymnastics programs across the country over the last 20 years.
  7. ^ Evans, Tim; Alesia, Mark; Kwiatkowski, Marisa (December 15, 2016). "A 20-year toll: 368 gymnasts allege sexual exploitation". The Indianapolis Star. Archived from the original on April 17, 2021. Retrieved February 17, 2018. At least 368 gymnasts have alleged some form of sexual abuse at the hands of their coaches, gym owners and other adults working in gymnastics. That's a rate of one every 20 days. And it's likely an undercount.
  8. ^ Smith, Mitch; Hartocollis, Anemona (May 16, 2018). "Michigan State's $500 Million for Nassar Victims Dwarfs Other Settlements". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
  9. ^ Maese, Rick; Hobson, Will (February 16, 2017). "USA Gymnastics alerted FBI in 2015 to doctor accused of abuse". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on January 26, 2018. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
  10. ^ Branch, John (March 16, 2017). "Steve Penny Resigns as U.S.A. Gymnastics President". The New York Times. Archived from the original on April 6, 2023.
  11. ^ a b Evans, Tim; Alesia, Mark; Kwiatkowski, Marisa (December 15, 2016). "A 20-year toll: 368 gymnasts allege sexual exploitation". The Indianapolis Star. Archived from the original on April 17, 2021. Retrieved February 17, 2018.
  12. ^ Hauser, Christine; Zraick, Karen (July 30, 2019). "Larry Nassar Sexual Abuse Scandal: Dozens of Officials Have Been Ousted or Charged". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 14, 2023. Retrieved November 14, 2023.
  13. ^ "Larry Nassar case: USA Gymnastics doctor 'abused 265 girls'". BBC News. January 31, 2018. Archived from the original on March 17, 2021. Retrieved July 21, 2018.