LANSING, Mich. — Six-time Olympic medalist Aly Raisman faced her abuser in a Michigan courtroom on Friday. The Needham, Massachusetts native is one of more than 140 women who say former USA Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar sexually abused them under the guise of medical treatment.
“I am here to face you, Larry, so you can see I have regained my strength. That I am no longer a victim, I am a survivor. I am no longer that little girl you met in Australia, where you first began grooming and manipulating,” Raisman said in court.
“As for your letter yesterday, you’re pathetic to think that anyone would have any sympathy for you,” she continued. “You think this is hard for you? Imagine how all of us feel.”
Earlier in the week, Raisman — a member of both the 2012 and 2016 U.S. Olympic teams — said she planned to submit a written victim impact statement for Nassar’s sentencing hearing, according to CBS Boston. Testifying in person, she said, would be too painful. However, on Friday morning, she appeared in the courtroom and delivered her victim impact statement.
Also testifying Friday was a fellow member of the 2012 “Fierce Five” Olympic team, Jordyn Wieber, who received a hug of support from Raisman. Wieber described talking to her teammates about Nassar’s treatments.
“I had no idea he was sexually abusing me for his own benefit,” she told the court. “I even talked to my teammates, Aly Raisman and McKayla Maroney, about this treatment and how uncomfortable it made us feel. None of us really understood it.”
McKayla Maroney submitted a written statement about her abuse, which was read to the court on Thursday. Two-time Olympic team member Gabby Douglas has also claimed abuse by Nassar, as well as Raisman’s 2016 teammate Simone Biles.
Nassar is being sentenced for seven counts of sexual assault. Victim impact statements began on Tuesday, with about 100 victims expected to speak over the course of five days.
Nassar is already serving a 60 year sentence for child pornography.
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