Larry Nassar: Aly Raisman says Olympic coach may have known about abuse since 2011
Gold medal gymnast Aly Raisman has alleged a US Gymnastics team coach may have known about the sexual abuse of Larry Nassar since 2011.
"We would talk about it amongst ourselves...And one of my teammates described in graphic detail what Nassar had done to her the night before. And John Geddert was in the car with us and he just didn't say anything,” Ms Raisman told CNN.
Nassar was found guilty in November 2017 and sentenced to up to 125 years in prison on several charges of abuse and child pornography last month.
She said she did not know if Mr Geddert acted on the allegations, but that “he didn't ask us any questions” after the conversation in the vehicle in 2011.
Ms Raisman and others have advocated a full investigation into USA Gymnastics, the governing body for the sport, and the US Olympic Committee.
A bipartisan group of Senators announced yesterday it will have a special panel to do just that.
Ms Raisman is just one of over 265 women and girls to have been abused by Nassar, often under the guise of medical treatment from the former team and Michigan State University doctor.
Mr Geddert has retired since his time coaching the 2012 gymnastics team which included Ms Raisman, Gabby Douglas, McKayla Maroney, and Jordyn Wieber - all of whom accused Nassar and/or gave victim impact statements at Nasser’s sentencing trials.
NEW: Olympic gold medalist @Aly_Raisman tells @JakeTapper her former coach might have known about sexual abuse by former team doctor Larry Nassar as early as 2011 https://t.co/xQbL7XGzQQ pic.twitter.com/EN0jeeh4Fm
— The Lead CNN (@TheLeadCNN) February 8, 2018
Police in Michigan, where Nassar was sentenced, have said they are investigating the claims against Mr Geddert.
Ms Raisman said during her victim impact statement, read in front of Nasser in the courtroom: “Neither USA Gymnastics nor the USOC have reached out to express sympathy or even offer support. Not even to ask, how did this happen? What do you think we can do to help? Why have I and others here probably not heard anything from the leadership from the USOC? Why has the United States Olympic Committee been silent? Why isn’t the USOC here right now?”
Senator Jeanne Shaheen said in a statement about the Congressional panel: “Because the U.S. Olympic Committee operates under a federal charter and its athletes compete under the American flag, the Senate has a responsibility to deliver answers and accountability” to answer the many questions that remain regarding who knew what and when
The Independent is attempting to contact Mr. Geddert for his response to the allegations and has not gotten a response to request for comment from the US Olympic Committee.
