USA Gymnastics’ biggest star has added her name to the long list of victims of former team doctor Larry Nassar.
Simone Biles opened up in a lengthy Twitter post Monday about her harrowing experiences with Nassar, who has been accused by up to 140 women of sexual assault under the guise of treatment. Nassar will hear the personal accounts of many of those women in a Michigan court Tuesday as part of his upcoming sentencing in the second of three criminal cases.
Biles, who became the most decorated American gymnast in history after winning four gold medals at the 2016 Rio Olympics, followed fellow US gymnasts Aly Raisman, Gabby Douglas and McKayla Maroney in sharing her story of feeling trapped by Nassar’s repeated assaults.
“Most of you know me as a happy, giggly, and energetic girl. But lately … I’ve felt a bit broken and the more I try to shut off the voice in my head the louder it screams,” Biles wrote in an open letter attached to the caption “Feelings… #MeToo,” referencing the hashtag that has empowered women around the world to reveal their experiences as victims of sexual assault and harassment.
“I am not afraid to tell my story anymore.”
Biles, 20, explained she had held off from going public with her accusation, but realizing the abuse was not her fault and she was not alone in her emotional recovery inspired her to speak up.
“For too long I’ve asked myself, ‘Was I too naive? Was it my fault?'” Biles continued. “I now know the answer to those questions. No. No, it was not my fault. No, I will not and should not carry the guilt that belongs to Larry Nassar, USAG, and others.
“It is impossibly difficult to relive these experiences and it breaks my heart even more to think that as I work towards my dream of competing in Tokyo 2020, I will have to continually return to the same training facility where I was abused.
“After hearing the brave stories of my friends and other survivors, I know that this horrific experience does not define me. I am much more than this. I am unique, smart, talented, motivated and passionate. I have promised myself that my story will be much greater than this and I promise all of you that I will never give up.”
Biles added to the call for reform that Raisman has harped on in recent months, suggesting an investigation into the organizations that enabled Nassar’s assault is necessary to ensure the safety of future athletes. Maroney filed a lawsuit against USA Gymnastics in December, accusing the organization of paying her a settlement to keep quiet on Nassar’s abuse.
“We need to know why this was able to take place for so long and to so many of us,” Biles wrote. “We need to make sure something like this never happens again.”
Raisman was quick to show her support for her teammate, responding to Biles’ letter within minutes of her posting it.
“I am so proud of you. You are incredible Simone,” Raisman commented. “I stand with you. I am shaking reading your post. I know we will all get through this together.”
Raisman will not be one of Nassar’s victims to give her testimony in court Tuesday. In a Twitter post earlier Monday, the three-time gold medalist said attending the hearing was “too traumatic” for her, and she would instead have her letter read out loud.
Nassar, who also served as a Michigan State doctor for decades, already was sentenced to 60 years in prison on Dec. 7 for possession of child pornography. That sentence will not begin, the judge said, until Nassar completes his sentences for sexual assault, which will be handed down this month.