December 15, 20169 yr This looks to be very bad... Report details scope of sexual abuse in U.S. gymnastics - ABC News An Indianapolis Star-USA Today investigation into sexual assault of young gymnasts has found hundreds of cases of athletes alleging abuse, as well as systemic failures that allowed abusive coaches to relocate to other gyms. At least 368 gymnasts throughout the U.S. have alleged being the victim of some form of sexual abuse over the past 20 years, according to police files and court cases obtained throughout the nine-month investigation. A number of the victims were children, and almost all of them were girls, according to the Indianapolis Star. More than 100 coaches, gym owners and other adults connected to the sport have been accused of abuse. The Indianapolis Star also reports that USA Gymnastics failed to monitor predatory coaches, allowing them to move between USA Gymnastics-certified gyms without being tracked and not revoking their membership in the organization. "It's just too easy for coaches to keep getting hired and hired and hired. Sexual abuse thrives on the fact that people are embarrassed about the topic, ashamed to talk about it, and they keep quiet about it," Nancy Hogshead-Makar, an Olympic gold-medal swimmer and CEO of the advocacy group Champion Women, told the Indianapolis Star. "And that's exactly why molesting coaches keep getting hired at the next place. Nobody talks about a coach that is inappropriate with athletes; the coach quietly moves away and gets hired someplace else." ..... It is unclear how many of the victims were USA Gymnastics members. Thursday's report follows a yearlong sexual-assault scandal that involves USA Gymnastics. Two former U.S. women's gymnasts have sued Dr. Larry Nassar, a former longtime doctor for USA Gymnastics, accusing him of sexual assault. One of those lawsuits also implicates legendary coaches Bela and Marta Karolyi of failing to protect the gymnast and of being physically and emotionally abusive, and accuses USA Gymnastics officials of concealing and ignoring the athlete's treatment. Nassar was fired as a faculty member and treating clinician at Michigan State in September following a complaint filed in August that accused him of sexually abusing a 15-year-old in 2000.
December 15, 20169 yr Something similar just came out in England in relation to their soccer youth coaches abusing young boys.
December 15, 20169 yr This looks to be very bad... Report details scope of sexual abuse in U.S. gymnastics - ABC News One of those lawsuits also implicates legendary coaches Bela and Marta Karolyi of failing to protect the gymnast and of being physically and emotionally abusive, and accuses USA Gymnastics officials of concealing and ignoring the athlete's treatment. Heck, that's pretty much been going on for years and just ignored hasn't it? Kind of like...well that's just how it is in the gymnastics world.
December 15, 20169 yr Author People with a propensity to do things like this will always gravitate to target rich environments...Scouts, Church Youth Groups, Youth Sports, Students...wherever they can find kids that can be manipulated and intimidated.
December 18, 20169 yr The nature of the sport of gymnastics perfectly lends itself for something of this tragic nature to take place. It is a sport where you are judged by people based solely on their opinions. That alone would keep people quiet so they don't ruffle feathers. This is extremely disheartening.
December 18, 20169 yr I'm still so amazed that people look at little kids like that and act upon those sick urges. Hell awaits you and I hope you meet it soon.
December 19, 20169 yr We think we are protecting our children from the spotlight by keeping quiet. No one is protected except the pervert. I think children's statements should be taken on video camera by a trained child abuse expert and they should never have to testify and they should remain anonymous. Maybe then, this won't happen again and again.
December 20, 20169 yr Has this been covered on ESPN much? This should be a huge story but I have not heard much at all on it...
January 11, 20179 yr 18 women sue ex-USA Gymnastics doctor in sex-assault case Eighteen women and girls have filed a federal lawsuit against disgraced former USA Gymnastics and Michigan State University doctor Larry Nassar, alleging that he sexually assaulted them repeatedly for years during physical examinations. The plaintiffs alleged a pattern of sexual abuse, disguised as treatment, that began in the late 1990s and continued into 2016. Most of the girls were teenagers at the time of the alleged assaults, although several were as young as 9. Nassar, 53, is already facing state and federal criminal charges, including sexual assault with a person under 13 and possession of child pornography.
January 11, 20179 yr 18 women sue ex-USA Gymnastics doctor in sex-assault case Eighteen women and girls have filed a federal lawsuit against disgraced former USA Gymnastics and Michigan State University doctor Larry Nassar, alleging that he sexually assaulted them repeatedly for years during physical examinations. The plaintiffs alleged a pattern of sexual abuse, disguised as treatment, that began in the late 1990s and continued into 2016. Most of the girls were teenagers at the time of the alleged assaults, although several were as young as 9. Nassar, 53, is already facing state and federal criminal charges, including sexual assault with a person under 13 and possession of child pornography. I don't get how this happens, I have two daughters and I can't think of a single time that either has been left alone with a doctor, other than when the oldest had surgery to remove her tonsils. Otherwise they have never received medical care without either myself or my wife being present.
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