US team doctor abused me during London 2012
GOLD MEDAL GYMNAST CLAIMS SHE WAS MOLESTED FROM AGE OF 13
U‘What I had to endure was unnecessary and disgusting’
SA Olympic gold medallist McKayla Maroney has made a series of explosive allegations that she was molested by her team doctor while in Britain for London 2012.
The 21- year- old, who won gymnastics team gold and individual silver in the vault, yesterday made the claims that Dr Larry Nassar had abused her from the age of 13 until her retirement last year.
Maroney, one of the biggest names in her sport, opened up in a tweet to make her allegations in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein scandal that has rocked the film industry in the US. Among her claims, Maroney said Nassar, who is due for sentencing next month on separate child pornography charges, abused her in London via ‘treatments’ before both her individual and team events at the Olympics.
The Metropolitan Police were last night aware of the situation, though they said no allegation had yet been brought to them against Nassar.
He is being sued in the US by more than 125 women, including several former athletes, in civil court over sexual assault claims.
Nassar, who was an osteopath with the USA team for 30 years, has previously claimed he was using sound medical procedures. But Maroney wrote yesterday: ‘People should know that this is not just happening in Hollywood. This is happening everywhere.
‘Wherever there is a position of power, there seems to be potential for abuse. I had a dream to go to the Olympics, and the things that I had to endure to get there were unnecessary and disgusting... I was molested by Dr Larry Nassar, the team doctor.
‘It started when I was 13, at one of my first national team training camps, and it didn’t end until I left the sport.’ She added: ‘ It seemed whenever and wherever this man could find the chance, I was “treated”.
‘It happened in London before my team and I won the gold medal, and it happened before I won my silver. For me, the scariest night of my life happened when I was 15 years old. I had flown all day and night with the team to get to Tokyo.
‘He’d given me a sleeping pill for the flight, and the next thing I know, I was all alone with him in his hotel room getting a “treatment”. I thought I was going to die that night.’
Maroney, the highest profile athlete to speak out about Nassar, continued: ‘The Olympics is something that brings people hope and joy.
‘It inspires people to fight for their dreams, because anything is possible with hard work and dedication.
‘I remember watching the 2004 Olympics. I was eight years old, and I told myself that one day I would wear that red, white, and blue leotard, and compete for my country.
‘Sure, from the outside looking in, it’s an amazing story. I did it. I got there, but not without a price.’
USA Gymnastics CEO Steve Penny resigned in March after being urged to quit over claims that he was slow to notify authorities about sexual abuse allegations against several coaches in the organisation.