Awareness

Sexual Abuse

• Sexual Abuse occurs by coaches, doctors, trainers, and other employed staff members.

• Larry Nassar Scandal

  • Nassar was a former doctor and trainer employed by USA Gymnastics and Michigan State University. Throughout his employment, Nassar abused over 200 young female gymnasts. He was charged with accounts of sexual assault of children, child pornography, and criminal sexual assault.

• Barry Hyder

  • Hyder was a USAG coach that owned and operated a chain of gymnastics practice facilities. Hyder incoporated many types of inappropriate behavior with his gymnasts including comments, touching, and sexual intercourse. Hyder invalidated many of the reports against him and, in the process, invalidated his gymnast's feelings.

Mental & Physical Abuse

• Harsh coaching styles characterized by harsh language and unfeasible workouts.

• Gymnastics coaches teach on a basis of fear, causing many internal struggles for gymnasts.

• The development and enforcement of eating disorders.

• Gymnasts are expected to reach and maintain "perfection" causing many mental struggles.

• Concealment and downplay of physical injuries leading to mental and physical complications.

Culture of Silence

• Gymnastics abusers continued to abuse gymnasts for years before any action by any governing body was taken.

  • Larry Nassar abused young gymnasts for twenty two years of his career. USAG was informed of this misconduct and the abuse continued regardless due to lack of action.

• Gymnastics governing bodies concealed these abuse reports and incidents which prevented proper investigative action. They also placed their priority on protecting their own abusive staff.

• SafeSport is underfunded and understaffed with underqualified employees to carry out its role, therefore, having no effect on the abuse presented within gymnastics.