Dominique Moceanu: USA Gymnastics 'Set the Stage' for Abuse

She also slams the Karolyis in Facebook post
By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff
Posted Feb 21, 2017 2:29 PM CST
Dominique Moceanu: USA Gymnastics 'Set the Stage' for Abuse
In this July 23, 1996 file photo, Bela Karolyi, right, congratulates Dominique Moceanu after the United States captured the gold medal in the women's team gymnastics competition at the Centennial Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta. At center is U.S. team coach Martha Karolyi.    (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta, File)

Dominique Moceanu did not experience abuse at the hands of former USA Gymanstics team doctor Larry Nassar, but she fully supports the gymnasts who have come forward to accuse him of sexual abuse, including three prominent gymnasts who spoke out on 60 Minutes Sunday. "After years of suffering other forms of physical and emotional abuse and neglect under the Karolyis, as well as being ostracized and overlooked by USAG when I did speak out, I have first-hand knowledge of how the culture set the stage for such atrocities to take place," Moceanu writes in a Facebook response to the 60 Minutes piece.

Moceanu, a gold medalist and member of the 1996 Summer Olympics' "Magnificent Seven," has previously alleged physical and emotional abuse at the hands of coaches Bela and Martha Karolyi, People reports, and she also previously criticized USAG's governing body. "Changes and improvements to the system—including a functioning set of checks and balances—are long overdue," she writes in her new post. "Gymnastics is a beautiful sport, and its young athletes deserve to practice and perform their craft in a safe environment." The three gymnasts who came forward on 60 Minutes are suing the Karolyis and USAG for allegedly failing to protect them. The Karolyis have denied having any knowledge of Nassar's alleged abuse. (More gymnastics stories.)

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