Olympic champion Raisman questions USA Gymnastics interim president
Three-time Olympic gold medallist Aly Raisman on Monday spoke out against USA Gymnastics’ choice for its interim president and chief executive, saying survivors of sexual abuse “deserve better”.
The criticism from Raisman, one of the athletes sexually abused by former USA Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar, comes three days after the sport’s governing body in US named Mary Bono as its interim leader.
Raisman took aim at former Republican congresswoman Bono over her previous employment at a law firm that worked for USA Gymnastics when sex abuse allegations against Nassar were being reported. Nassar received a prison sentence of up to 175 years after pleading guilty to criminal sexual conduct.
“My teammates & I reported Nassar’s abuse to USAG in 2015,” Raisman wrote on Twitter. “We now know USOC & lawyers at Faegre Baker Daniels (Mary Bono’s firm) were also told then, yet Nassar continued to abuse children for 13 months!? Why hire someone associated with the firm that helped cover up our abuse?
“Clearly this is not a “new” USAG. Same corrupt decisions. Perhaps it’s because true accountability is less likely if authority is placed in the hands of someone similarly motivated to avoid it. “Survivors, current gymnasts, families, coaches, gymnastics community & fans deserve better.” Bono will fill the role while USA Gymnastics searches for a permanent successor to Kerry Perry, who took over last November after predecessor Steve Penny resigned following a review into how USA Gymnastics handled allegations of sexual abuse.
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