Simone Biles Says She Was Also Sexually Assaulted by Former Team USA Doctor Larry Nassar
On Monday, the 2016 Rio Olympics four-time gold medalist Simone Biles alleged on Twitter that she too was sexually assaulted by Larry Nassar, a USA Gymnastics team doctor who allegedly attacked more than 130 women, including Team USA Olympian McKayla Maroney and Biles’ fellow “Final Five” Rio teammates Aly Raisman and Gabby Douglas.
In a deeply personal post Biles wrote, “Most of you know me as a happy, giggly and energetic girl. But lately…I’ve felt a bit broken and the more I try to shut off the voice in my head the louder it screams.” She added, “I am not afraid to tell my story anymore.”
Biles wrote that there were many reasons that she was first reluctant to tell her story. “For too long I have asked myself, ‘Was I too naive? Was it my fault?’ I now know the answers to those questions. No. No, it was not my fault. No, I will not and should not carry the guilt that belongs to Larry Nassar, USAG [USA Gymnastics], and others.”
Nassar has already been convicted of both assault and possession of child pornography. Sentencing on his seven sexual assault charges will begin on Tuesday, January 16, when dozens of women will speak out on the stand against him.
“What people need to understand is these aren’t just anonymous people,” Rachael Denhollander, the first woman to come forward and publicly accuse Nassar, told NBC. “These were real little girls, some of them as young as 6 years old,” Denhollander added. “These were real young women who are suffering devastating consequences now, and this could have been avoided.”
As Biles said in the closing of her statement, “We need to know why this was able to take place for so long and to so many of us. We need to make sure something like this never happens again. As I continue to work through the pain, I kindly ask everyone to respect my privacy. This is a process, and one I need more time to work through.”
Related Content:
–Aly Raisman Releases the Letter She Wasn’t Allowed to Read at Larry Nassar’s Trial
–McKayla Maroney Claims USA Gymnastics Tried to Silence Her Claims of Abuse Against Former Team Doctor
–Gabby Douglas Says She Too Was Abused By Doctor Larry Nassar