Olympic Medalist Aly Raisman Claims Sexual Abuse by Team Doctor
"I am angry," Raisman says
By Staff Reports ••
Raisman hopes by telling her story — in her new book titled “Fierce” — she’ll prevent this from happening to others.
What to Know
Olympic medalist and Mass. native Aly Raisman told CBS News she is among the young women abused by Dr. Larry Nassar.
In an interview set to air on "60 Minutes", Raisman, 23, said Nassar began treating her when she was 15 years old.
Raisman joins a long list of women who have accused Nassar of sexual misconduct.
Six-time Olympic medalist Aly Raisman says she is among the young women abused by Dr. Larry Nassar, who worked as the U.S. Women's Gymnastic team doctor for nearly two decades, CBS News reported.
The Massachusetts native spoke out about the alleged abuse in an interview with "60 Minutes" set to air Sunday night. Raisman, 23, also details her experience at the hands of the embattled doctor, who began treating her when she was 15 years old, in her new book "Fierce," which will be released on Tuesday.
"I am angry. I'm really upset because it's been — I care a lot you know, when I see these young girls that come up to me, and they ask for pictures or autographs, whatever it is, I just — I can't — every time I look at them, every time I see them smiling, I just think - I just want to create change so that they never, ever have to go through this," Raisman told CBS' Jon Lapook.
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She also reveals she spoke to FBI investigators about Nassar after competing in the Olympics Games in Rio de Janeiro in 2016.
The 23-year-old Raisman has been highly critical of the way her sport's governing body handled sexual abuse claims and has called for sweeping changes in leadership at USA Gymnastics, including the removal of the chairman of the board Paul Parilla.
"These girls, they should be comfortable going to USA Gymnastics and saying: 'I need help, I want therapy. I need this,'" Raisman said during an interview in August at the 2017 national championships in Anaheim, California.
Raisman joins a long list of women who have accused Nassar of sexual misconduct. She is the second member of the 2012 Olympic gold-medal winning team to come forward with allegations against Nassar.
McKayla Maroney detailed her story in a Twitter post last month.
Raisman voiced support for Maroney in a tweet of her own, writing: "100% support you. SO proud of you and your strength. Love you like a sister!!"
100% support you. SO proud of you and your strength. Love you like a sister!! https://t.co/1VHb79a7lx
Nassar is currently in jail awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to three federal child pornography charges in July. He's also awaiting trial on separate criminal sexual conduct charges and has been sued by more than 125 women alleging abuse. Nassar has pleaded not guilty to the assault charges.
At the Burlington gym where Raisman trained for years, the gym that took her to two Olympic games, people were stunned.
Everyone NBC Boston spoke with found out about the alleged abuse just Friday morning.
One parent said she wasn't surprised, knowing the existing allegations against the doctor Raisman says assaulted her.
USA Gymnastics launched an independent review of its policies in the wake of the allegations against Nassar and reporting by the Indianapolis Star that highlighted chronic mishandling of abuse allegations against coaches and staff at some of its more than 3,500 clubs across the country.
In June, the federation adopted 70 recommendations offered by Deborah Daniels, a former federal prosecutor who oversaw the review. The new guidelines require member gyms to go to authorities immediately, with Daniels suggesting USA Gymnastics consider withholding membership from clubs that decline to do so.
The organization also named Toby Stark, a child welfare advocate, as its director of Safe Sport. Part of Stark's mandate is educating members on rules, educational programs and reporting.
USA Gymnastics announced Tuesday it hired Kerry Perry as the organization's new president and CEO.
The organization said in a statement to "60 Minutes" it is "very sorry that any athlete has been harmed ... we want to work with Aly and all interested athletes to keep athletes safe."
