Wow, we are blown away by Aly Raisman‘s strength today in court while facing her abuser in court on Friday.
As you know, Larry Nassar is being sentenced this week after more than 140 women have come forward saying the former USA Gymnastics team doctor molested them under the guise of medical treatment.
Related: McKayla Maroney Will NOT Be Fined By USA Gymnastics
The six-time Olympic medalist took the stand to address her abuser, where she ripped into him for the pain he’s caused to the hundreds of victims and their families:
“You are so sick. You took advantage of our passions and our dreams. I am here to face you, Larry, so you can see I have regained my strength. That I am no longer a victim, I am a survivor. I am no longer that little girl you met in Australia, where you first began grooming and manipulating. You caused me a great deal of physical, mental, and emotional pain. You never healed me.”
She went on to acknowledge his plea for victim impact statements to stop:
“As for your letter yesterday, you’re pathetic to think that anyone would have any sympathy for you. “You think this is hard for you? Imagine how all of us feel. Imagine feeling like you have no power and no voice. Well you know what, Larry? I have both power and voice, and I am only beginning to just use them. I will not rest until every last trace of your influence on this sport has been destroyed like the cancer that it is.”
Raisman also turned the blame on USA Gymnastics and the US Olympic Committee, who allowed and enabled this “nightmare” to happen:
“Neither USA Gymnastics nor the USOC have reached out to express sympathy or even offer support. If over these many years, just one adult listened and had the courage and character to act, this tragedy could have been avoided.”
Raisman concluded by asking Judge Rosemarie Aquilina to sentence Nassar to the “maximum extent of the law”:
“Let this sentence strike fear in anyone who thinks it is okay to hurt another person. Abusers, your time is up. The survivors are here, standing tall, and we are not going anywhere. And please, your honor, stress the need to investigate how this happened so that we can hold accountable those who empowered and enabled Larry Nassar. So we can repair and once again believe in this wonderful sport.”
Do yourself a favor and watch her full testimony (below)!
LIVE: Olympic star Aly Raisman testifies at sentencing of disgraced former team doctor – https://t.co/kdrUxkkyai https://t.co/IUbBr1RuYC
— NBC News (@NBCNews) January 19, 2018
TIME’S UP, ASSHOLES!!!! (Sorry, got excited).
So proud of these brave survivors. More to come!
[Image via NBC.]
Related Posts
-
Categories
