Olympic Champ Says She Was Abused by Team Doctor

Gabby Douglas is latest to accuse Larry Nassar
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Nov 22, 2017 1:10 AM CST
Gabby Douglas Says She Was Abused by Team Doctor
This Aug. 23, 2016 photo shows US gymnastics team member Gabby Douglas, at the Empire State Building in New York.   (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews, File)

Olympic champion gymnast Gabby Douglas says she is among the group of athletes sexually abused by a former team doctor. Douglas, the 2012 Olympic all-around champion and a three-time gold medalist, wrote in an Instagram post Tuesday that she waited so long to reveal the abuse by Larry Nassar because she was part of a group "conditioned to stay silent." Douglas included the revelation in an apology for comments made on social media last week that suggested women dress modestly to help prevent abuse. Douglas said her comments, which she later deleted, were taken out of context. "I didn't view my comments as victim shaming because I know no matter what you wear, it NEVER gives anyone the right to harass or abuse you," Douglas wrote.

The 21-year-old Douglas is the latest high-profile gymnast to come forward against Nassar, who spent nearly two decades as the national team doctor for USA Gymnastics before being fired in 2015. Two-time Olympic teammate Aly Raisman wrote about alleged abuse by Nassar in her autobiography Fierce, released earlier this month. Two-time Olympic medalist McKayla Maroney disclosed abuse by Nassar in October. Nassar, 54, is accused of molesting several girls while working for USA Gymnastics and Michigan State University. He's facing similar charges in a neighboring Michigan county and lawsuits filed by more than 125 women and girls. Nassar will plead guilty to multiple charges of sexual assault and face at least 25 years in prison, a person with knowledge of the agreement said Tuesday.

(More Gabby Douglas stories.)

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