Judge warns gymnastics still failing athletes a decade after Nassar

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 20 Oct, 08:43 · Archive

The judge who sentenced USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar to 175 years in prison says the sport is still failing athletes a decade on.

Judge Rosemarie Aquilina, who sentenced USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar to up to 175 years in prison in 2018 for sexually abusing more than 250 women and girls, told the Guardian and Reuters that the sport has made little meaningful progress in the past decade. Speaking at an event during the World Gymnastics Championships in Rotterdam, she said reforms introduced since Nassar's crimes were exposed amounted largely to 'window dressing' and criticised the sport for prioritising 'money, medals and notoriety over the safety of children'.

Aquilina said athletes remained afraid to speak out about abuse because they feared losing access to the sport they loved. 'Safety is a human right and yet these athletes still feel that they don't have it because the sport they love will go away if they complain about anything,' she told Reuters. She expressed scepticism about the possibility of meaningful change, saying: 'I don't think we're going to see a change in my lifetime. I think it's going to take decades.'

Claire Heafford, chief executive of Gymnasts for Change International, which organised the event, said survivors were still not being listened to and the scale of reform had not met the scale of the revelations. However, Kim Shore of Gymnasts for Change Canada credited World Gymnastics, the sport's governing body, with making positive progress, though she highlighted the challenge of implementing reforms consistently across all levels of the sport worldwide.

How it is being reported

• Judge in Larry Nassar abuse case says gymnastics still failing athletes amid calls for changeJudge Rosemarie Aquilina said little progress had been made despite reforms in the decade since USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar was exposedIndependent Sport · 20 Oct, 08:31
• ‘Money and medals over safety’: Nassar judge warns gymnasts are still being failedLarry Nassar’s sexual abuse crimes came to light 10 years ago Survivors gather at World Gymnastics Championships to call for reform The judge who sentenced the former USA Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar to up to 175 years in jail for the sexual abuse of more than 250 women and girls has condemned the lack of meaningful change in the decade since Nassar’s crimes were exposed. Against the backdrop of the World Gymnastics Championships, taking place in Rotterdam this week, Judge Rosemarie Aquilina told the Guardian that human rights must be prioritised over the desire for sporting success.…Guardian Sport · 19 Oct, 18:22

In this story: Larry Nassar · Rosemarie Aquilina · USA Gymnastics · World Gymnastics · Gymnasts for Change International · Rotterdam

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