USA Gymnastics and U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee agreed to pay $380 million to hundreds of victims of sexual abuse by Larry Nassar, former team doctor.
The agreement was reached by the two organizations and their insurances on Monday. It included a monetary payment as well as reforms to the organizations to prevent future abuse.
John C. Manly, an attorney representing some of the victims, stated that they won because of “one simple reason”, the courage and tenacity displayed by the survivors. “These courageous women shared their abuse in public, in numerous media interviews, so that no more child will have to suffer emotional, physical or sexual abuse to pursue their dreams.”
The agreement was a result of USA Gymnastics’ 2018 bankruptcy filing. A federal judge in Indiana approved the settlement Monday afternoon.
USA Gymnastics’ president and CEO Li Li Leung said that the organization is sorry for the pain and trauma that survivors have suffered as a result. We are committed to working together with them and the whole gymnastics community to ensure that safety, health and well-being of our athletes and the community is always our top priority.
The agreement provides more than just compensation for survivors
USA Gymnastics must have at least one survivor of abuse on its board and establish a process for restorative justice for victims.
Sarah Hirshland (CEO of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee) stated in a statement that her company was thankful for the settlement reached with survivors of Nassar’s abuse.
“We are grateful for the extraordinary strength and courage these women have displayed. Hirshland stated that while we recognize our responsibility for failing to protect these athletes, it was also regrettable for the deep hurt they have suffered. He added that reforms have been made to support and combat sexual abuse.
It is an excellent settlement. It’s a defeat for USA Olympic and Paralympic Committee as well as USA Gymnastics, who have spent more than $100,000,000 in legal fees.” Manly stated in an interview with NPR’s All Things Considered.
He said, “Every American should be proud about these women; not for a law settlement but for changing how we treat survivors of sex abuse in this country — particularly children.”
The scandal rocked competitive gymnastics
Nassar was the U.S. Olympic Gymnastics team’s team doctor. He also worked for many years at USA Gymnastics, Michigan State University and later admitted to sexually abusing several women in a scandal that shocked the competitive gymnastics world.
A number of top athletes, including Simone Biles, Aly Raisman and McKayla Marsoney, have shared their stories about sexual abuse by the disgraced doctor.
Simone Biles says she wasn’t going to let Larry Nassar take her joy away
In 2018, Nassar was sentenced for sexual abuse to between 40 and 175 years imprisonment in a high-profile case that saw many victims make emotional statements in court. After pleading guilty at the Michigan training facility to molesting young gymnasts, he was sentenced to another 40-125 years in prison. On federal child pornography charges, he had been sentenced to a 60 year term.
Rachael denhollander, who was the first gymnast in 2016 to file a criminal case against Nassar, praised the agreement.
Denhollander tweeted, “This chapter is closed.”
“Now, the hard work of rebuilding and reform can begin. It all depends on what happens next.
