Triumphing over Nassar’s sex abuse
Victims reclaiming what gymnastics doctor took
LANSING, Mich. – As victim-impact statements in Larry Nassar’s sentencing hearing continued in the second week, themes have emerged among the more than 130 women and girls who have spoken.
There’s the trauma: nightmares, PTSD, loss of trust and self-worth, loss of voice and suicidal thoughts.
There’s the abuse: hundreds of instances of being sexually assaulted, digitally penetrated with Nassar’s ungloved hand, sometimes in an exam room, sometimes in the back room of Twistars gymnastics club, sometimes in his home and at least one in a supply closet.
And there’s triumph: succeeding despite the abuse and trauma, but also reclaiming what Nassar took.
“I had goals for the future,” Whitney Burns said Tuesday. “You stole my light, Larry Nassar, and I am now taking it back.”
Burns was the first woman to speak Tuesday, the sixth day of Nassar’s sentencing hearing that was once expected to take only four days. In the days before the hearing began last week, the Michigan Attorney General’s Office said it expected 88 women or girls to speak. That figure has been updated each morning and now stands at 158.
Anna Dayton, who was the 130th woman to give a statement, said Tuesday that Nassar was her one glimpse of hope to overcome the gymnastics injuries, and he used that power to abuse her.
“I’m here to take back my power, relinquish yours,” she told Nassar. “From now on, I decide who I become. I will write the ending to my life story, free from this darkness that you’ve created.”
In addition to the Michigan State campus and USA Gymnastics facilities and his Holt home, among others, admitted pedophile Larry Nassar assaulted at least one victim on Holt school property, a victim said Tuesday in open court.
Holt graduate Brooke Hylek said Nassar assaulted her on school property while she was a student there. It was not previously publicly known that any of Nassar’s crimes had occurred there. Holt Public Schools Superintendent David Hornak could not be reached for comment Tuesday.
Other developments:
John Geddert, owner of Twistars USA Gymnastics Club, said in a letter to families whose children train there that he is preparing to retire. Hours after USA Gymnastics announced Geddert had been suspended from membership, he sent an email Monday night to “Twistars families” saying, among other things, that he has been preparing to retire at 60, the age he has reached. Geddert coached the 2012 U.S. Olympic women’s gymnastics team. He also worked closely with Nassar, who was allowed to treat patients in a backroom at Twistars.
AT&T has suspended its sponsorship of USA Gymnastics in the wake of the sexual abuse scandal, the company announced Tuesday. AT&T joins Procter & Gamble, Hershey’s and Under Armour as sponsors that have left the beleaguered national governing body since December. In a statement, AT&T said, “We notified USA Gymnastics today that we are suspending our sponsorship of the organization until it is rebuilt and we know that the athletes are in a safe environment. The terrible abuse suffered by these young women is unconscionable. We remain committed to helping these young athletes pursue their dreams and hope to find other ways to do so. We stand ready to step back in when USAG has fully addressed these tragic events.”
Authorities in Texas say they’re investigating the Karolyi Ranch that was a training site for U.S. Olympic gymnasts until the sexual abuse case against Nassar cast a shadow over the facility. Walker County Sheriff ’s Office spokeswoman Marlene Wells would not say what the investigation is about or when it began. But she confirmed the office has an open investigation. Gymnasts preyed upon by Nassar have said he sexually assaulted them while they were training at the ranch outside Huntsville. USA Gymnastics announced last week that it had ended its agreement to have the ranch serve as the national training center. USA Gymnastics had already backed out of an agreement to buy the facility.