A new report in ESPN The Magazine shines a light on the disturbing, enabling behavior of the adults who surrounded disgraced gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar.
“They just kept it quiet, and that is what’s so hard — knowing that if adults were to make the right decision and do the right thing at the right time, that the abuse could have stopped,” one former gymnast, who remained anonymous to protect her family, told the publication.
Approximately 140 women have accused Nassar of sexually assaulting or molesting them, with Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles the latest to come forward and say he abused her. Nassar, 54, is awaiting sentencing after he pleaded guilty to 10 counts first-degree criminal sexual conduct in November. Any sentence handed down to him will be in addition to the 60 years he already received, ESPN reports, after pleading guilty to child pornography charges.
But as justice is served to Nassar, the question remains: Exactly how much did the adults who surrounded him, both at USA Gymnastics and at Michigan State University, know? And what should the consequences for them be?
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