USA Gymnastics and the US Olympic and Paralympic Committees have agreed to pay a $380 million settlement for hundreds of survivors of former doctor Larry Nassar .’s sexual abuse.
The two institutions and their insurers reached an agreement, which includes a cash payout as well as reforms at the institutions to prevent future abuse, on Monday.
“We prevailed for one simple reason, which was the courage and tenacity of the survivors,” John C. Manly, an attorney for some of the victims, said in a statement. “These brave women have recounted their abuse publicly, in countless media interviews, so that no more child will be forced to be physically abused. , emotionally or sexually to pursue her dreams.”
The settlement comes from USA Gymnastics’ bankruptcy filing in 2018, with a federal judge in Indiana approving the deal Monday afternoon.
“USA Gymnastics is deeply sorry for the injuries and pain that Survivors have suffered as a result of this organization’s actions and shutdown,” said Li Li Leung, president and CEO of USA Gymnastics. in a statement. “We are committed to working with them, and with the gymnastics community as a whole, to ensure that we continue to prioritize the safety, health and fitness of our athletes and our community.” above all else.”
USA Gymnastics would be required to have at least one abuse survivor on its board of directors and create a restorative justice process for victims, among other provisions.
Sarah Hirshland, Executive Director of the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee, said in a statement that she is grateful to have reached an agreement with survivors of Nassar abuse.
“We have our deepest respect for the immense strength and courage these women have shown. We recognize our role in failing to protect these athletes and We apologize for the deep trauma they have suffered,” Hirshland said, adding that the commission had also enacted reforms to combat sexual abuse and support athletes.
Nassar was a doctor on the US Olympic gymnastics team and for many years worked at the American College of Gymnastics and Michigan State University, where he later admitted to abusing numerous women and children. girl in a scandal that rocked the world of competitive gymnastics.
Top athletes from Simone Biles to Aly Raisman to McKayla Maroney have told stories of their sexual abuse at the hands of the obnoxious doctor.
Nassar is sentenced to between 40 and 175 years went to prison for sexual abuse in 2018 during a high-profile trial that saw many of his victims give emotional testimony in court. Next month he was sentenced to another 40 to 125 years behind bars after pleading guilty to sexually abusing a young gymnast at a training facility in Michigan. He was previously sentenced to 60 years in prison on federal child pornography charges.
Rachael Denhollander, the gymnast who first filed criminal charges against Nassar in 2016, praised the deal announced Monday.
“This chapter is finally closed,” Denhollander said in a tweet.
“Now the hard work of reform and rebuilding can begin. Whether justice comes and change is made, depends on what happens next.”
