USA Gymnastics and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee have agreed to a settlement with the survivors of sexual assault ofLarry Nassarwho filed lawsuits against the former osteopath.
USAG And USOPC will also provide several other non-monetary provisions to the lawsuit complainants, including a dedicated seat on USAG’s board of directors and an investigation into the organization’s culture and practices.
Rachel Denhollander — who in 2016 became the first ofdozens of womenwho came forward to accuse the former doctor of sexual abuse — told theAssociated Presson Monday: “It’s not about money, it’s about change. It’s about an accurate assessment of what went wrong so that it is safer for the next generation.”
USA Gymnastics also issued a statement. “USA Gymnastics is deeply sorry for the trauma and pain that Survivors have endured as a result of this organization’s actions and inactions,” said President and CEO Li Li Leung.
“Individually and collectively, survivors have stepped forward with bravery to advocate for enduring change in this sport,” Leung continued. “We are committed to working with them, and with the entire gymnastics community, to ensure that we continue to prioritize the safety, health and wellness of our athletes and community above all else.”
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Monday’s agreement is an additional settlement after Michigan State University, Nassar’s former employer, agreed in May 2018 topay $500 million to Nassar’s survivors.
The plaintiff’s attorney John Manly toldESPNthe $880 million total is the largest involving a single perpetrator in a sexual assault case.
“This settlement is the result of the bravery of hundreds of survivors who, despite legal obstacles, long odds and the best corporate legal talent money can buy, refused to be silent. The power of their story eventually won the day,” said Manly.
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Biles, 24, was recently namedTIME’s 2021 athlete of the year, and she opened up about the “pain” she’s felt following Nassar’s abuse.
She also joined Raisman, Maroney and many other survivors intestifyingin a September Senate hearing on the FBI’s handling of the Nassar investigation.
On Dec. 1, she was named one ofPEOPLE’s 2021 People of the Year. Looking back on 2021, shetold PEOPLE, “I fought hard. I survived.”
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go torainn.org.
source: people.com
