In November, Larry Nassar admitted to abusing gymnasts under the guise of administering medical treatment. Prosecutors are seeking a 40- to 125-year prison sentence.
The first witness in court on Tuesday was Kyle Stephens, who told the court she was abused by Nassar, a family friend, between the ages of six and 12. “I testified to let the world know that you are a repulsive liar,” Stephens said as she addressed Nassar, who sat with his head bowed. Stephens added that she had told her parents about Nassar’s abuse but he had convinced them she was lying.
“Perhaps you have figured it out by now, but little girls don’t stay little for ever,” Stephens said. “They grow into strong women that destroy your world.”
Other women who appeared in court detailed the physical and mental pain caused by Nassar’s abuse. Donna Markham recounted how her daughter Chelsey had taken her own life years after Nassar had molested her. “It all started with him,” she said after describing Chelsey’s struggles with drug addiction.
On Monday, Biles became the latest gymnast to say she was molested by Nassar while under his care. “Most of you know me as a happy, giggly, and energetic girl,” the four-times Olympic gold medalist wrote on Twitter. “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. I am not afraid to tell my story anymore. I too am one of the many survivors that was sexually abused by Larry Nassar.”
Some of Biles’s fellow Olympic champions have said they were abused by Nassar, including Aly Raisman, McKayla Maroney and Gabby Douglas. Biles said she was encouraged to come forward after discovering what her fellow athletes had said.
“After hearing the brave stories of my friends and other survivors, I know that this horrific experience does not define me,” wrote the 20-year-old. “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.”
USA Gymnastics and Michigan State University, where Nassar ran a clinic and was a faculty member, have come under heavy criticism for their handling of the case. Four athletes told ESPN they had reported Nassar’s abuse to Michigan State in the late 1990s, while Nassar continued to see patients at MSU for 16 months after a criminal investigation into his actions was launched in July 2014. Raisman says she suffered abuse after that date. MSU has denied there was a cover-up.
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