Simone Biles: I Was Sexually Abused by Larry Nassar

The revelation comes one day before Nassar's sentencing hearing
By Josh Rosenblatt,  Newser Staff
Posted Jan 15, 2018 5:46 PM CST
Simone Biles Accuses Larry Nassar of Sexual Abuse
Simone Biles   (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell, File)

American Olympic superstar Simone Biles added her name to the list of women who say they were molested by former USA Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar Monday, CNN reports. In a statement released on her Twitter account alongside the hashtag "MeToo," the four-time Olympic gold medalist wrote, "I, too, am one of the many survivors that was sexually abused by Larry Nassar … For far too long I've asked myself 'Was I too naive? Was it my fault?' 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."

Biles' revelation comes one day before Nasser begins a weeklong sentencing hearing. In November he pled guilty to seven counts of criminal sexual misconduct, but the judge has decided to let all of his accusers speak, NBC News reports. Nearly 100 women are expected to speak or deliver audio recordings. Biles did not say if she would attend the hearing. Biles is the fourth member of the triumphant "Fierce Five" 2016 women's Olympic gymnastics team to make allegations of abuse against Nassar. Hearing her teammates' stories, she wrote, inspired her to come out with her own: "After hearing the brave stories of my friends and other survivors, I know that this horrific experience does not define me." (More Simone Biles stories.)

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