Maroney: ‘I should never have met’ abuser
NEW YORK – Olympic gold medalist McKayla Maroney on Tuesday criticized USA Gymnastics, the U.S. Olympic Committee and Michigan State University in her first public comments since coming forward with allegations that she was sexually abused by Larry Nassar.
“We know Larry is a monster, and learning from everything that has come out, I should never have met him,” Maroney said at a lunch for the New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. “USA Gymnastics, MSU and the USOC continued to look away (and) to protect their reputations. All they cared about is money and medals. It didn’t seem they cared about anything else.” Maroney, 22, addressed the relief she felt in October when she wrote on Twitter that Nassar had abused her. She credited the #MeToo movement for giving her the courage to speak out.
“So many people were speaking up, I finally felt like that this is my moment,” she said. “I know a lot of people don’t have moments like that. I feel very lucky. I have been able to compete at the Olympics and have people that are watching me, it almost feels like my duty to be able to give back to people. ...
“A lot of people would say that (coming forward) would be empowering. It really was. I am so happy to be here and speaking and lifting that weight off my shoulders.”
More than 260 athletes have accused Nassar of abusing them while he served as a team physician for USA Gymnastics and at Michigan State, where he was a team doctor.