Aly Raisman Calls Out U.S. Olympic Committee for “Shameless” Statement
The Needham native said the organization has not been accountable for its role in allowing Larry Nassar's abuse to continue.
Photo via AP/Jae C. Hong
Aly Raisman is not impressed.
Three top officials from the United States Gymnastics Board of Directors announced their resignations on Monday as the sport faces a cultural reckoning while abuse survivor after abuse survivor speaks up at the ongoing Larry Nassar court case. But Raisman, who has been a vocal advocate for the abused athletes, called out the U.S. Olympic Committee and the sport’s leaders for not going far enough.
“Over the weekend, the USOC released a statement shamelessly taking credit for a few USAG resignations (note: not fired), as though they’re addressing this problem,” the Needham native said in a statement on Twitter. She went on to call them out for not acknowledging their “own role in this mess” and taking “ZERO accountability,” saying, “It’s like none of us were ever abused!”
Thoughts on USOC’s statement pic.twitter.com/hygTV6nNXd
— Alexandra Raisman (@Aly_Raisman) January 23, 2018
Nassar, a former U.S. national team doctor, has been accused by more than 140 women of sexual abuse. He has already pleaded guilty to several charges of sexual assault and was sentenced to 60 years in federal prison on three counts of child pornography. More than 100 women have provided victim impact statements during his hearing, and Nassar is expected to spend the rest of his life behind bars.
Raisman read a powerful impact statement during the trial last Friday and pointed out that back in August 2016, the Indy Star revealed that the Olympic Committee declined to investigate allegations of Nassar’s abuse. She said she and several other athletes blame the USOC for being complicit, failing to protect athletes, and remaining unaccountable for the role they played in allowing Nassar’s behavior to continue. In her statement, Raisman called for the board members to clean house and open an independent investigation into why so many adults failed to step in on the athletes’ behalf.
She closed her response with an all bold question for the USOC: “What’s it going to take for you to do the right thing?”
