Facing down your sexual predator takes a strength, determination and grit that few people can understand. Just read what Rachael Denhollander, the first woman to come forward and publicly accuse Larry Nassar of sexual assault, had to do and you’ll see why.

As Denhollander wrote in a powerful new op-ed for The New York Times, she was first sexually abused by Nassar in 2000 when she was just 15 years old. It wasn’t until 2016 that Denhollander, now a lawyer, mother, and coach herself, came forward to tell her story to both the Indianapolis Star and the police.

“I came as prepared as possible: I brought medical journals showing what real pelvic floor technique looks like; my medical records showing Larry had never mentioned using techniques; other records from a nurse practitioner documenting my disclosure of abuse in 2004; my journals from that time; and a letter from a neighboring district attorney vouching for my character,” she wrote.

It should have been all business after that, but, as Denhollander explained, what happened next took her by surprise.

“My education as an attorney prepared me for the process and presentation. But absolutely nothing could have prepared me for the pain of being the first to go public with my accusations in The Indianapolis Star,” she wrote. “I lost my church. I lost my closest friends as a result of advocating for survivors who had been victimized by similar institutional failures in my own community.” Most importantly, she added, “I lost every shred of privacy.”

The things Nassar did to her, and more than 200 other women, including “degrading and humiliating sex acts without my consent or permission,” lead Denhollander to stop competing in the sport she loved at 16. Years later, his disgusting actions left her without the protective barrier of a private life as well.

“When a new friend googled my name or added me as a friend on Facebook, the most intimate details of my life became available long before we had even exchanged phone numbers. I avoided the grocery stores on some days, to make sure my children didn’t see my face on the newspaper or magazine. I was asked questions about things no one should know when I least wanted to talk,” she wrote.

Yet somehow, through all this, Denhollander knew she wasn’t just doing something good for herself by coming forward, but also something great for other past and would-be victims of both Nassar’s and other predators.

As Denhollander explained, Nassar expertly ingratiated himself into the gymnastics community and became a trusted and respected figure. Moreover, Denhollander noted, “Research shows that every pedophile is also reported an average of at least seven times before adults take the reports of abuse seriously and act on them.” This, she added, was exactly why people are often afraid to speak out after they are abused. Because it simply takes so long for someone to believe you.

Nassar was sentenced to 40 to 175 years in prison and will undoubtedly spend the rest of his life there. This sentence was a victory for his victims, no doubt, but what may be an even greater win would be what Denhollander added in her op-ed: “To encourage and support those brave enough to speak out against their own communities.” She added, “Ask yourself: How much is a child worth?Everyone decent human being knows the answer to that question. Now it is time to act like it.”

Read the whole story here.

Related Content:
Aly Raisman Releases Powerful Statement Following Nassar Sentencing: ‘Today Was an Important Victory, but There Is Still Work to Be Done’
‘It Ends Today’: The Survivors of Larry Nassar, In Their Own Words
How to Talk to Children About Abuse in the Wake of the Larry Nassar Trial

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