Simone Biles: "You had one job and you couldn’t protect us."
The gymnastics superstar's teary reaction to questions about USA Gymnastics in aftermath of Larry Nassar case
Artistic Gymnastics
Four-time Olympic gold medallist Simone Biles broke down in tears at the 2019 U.S National Gymnastics Championships in Kansas City, while discussing USA Gymnastics and the Larry Nassar sexual-abuse case.
The 22-year old, who revealed last January that she, too, was sexually abused by Nassar, said she still feels uncomfortable seeing a doctor:
''You had one job. You literally had one job and you couldn’t protect us and it is just really sad because now every time I go to the doctor or training, I get worked on. I don’t want to get worked on, but my body hurts, I’m 22 and at the end of the day that’s my fifth rotation and I have to go to therapy.''
USA Gymnastics has come under fire over its handling of sexual-abuse cases in the aftermath of the Nassar verdict.
The former USA gymnastics sports doctor admitted to sexually assaulting gymnasts, possessing child pornography and molesting girls who sought medical treatment. The 55-year-old was sentenced to more than 300 years in jail.
Biles and fellow Olympic gold medallists Aly Raisman. Gabby Douglas, McKayla Maroney and Jordyn Wieber all have accused Nassar of sexual abuse under the guise of medical treatment.
''It’s hard coming here for an organisation, having had them fail us so many times, we had one goal, we have done everything that they asked us for, even when we didn’t want to and they couldn’t do one damn job,'' Simone Biles said in Kansas City.
"It's just hard, and we try to work through it," Biles said. "It will take some time. I'm strong. I'll get through it, but it's hard."
Biles seeking history
Biles has a chance to become the first American woman to capture six U.S. all-around titles in more than half a century at the national championships.
At the U.S. Classic in July, she was impressive in her first competition since winning the Stuttgart World Cup in March, soaring to her 19th straight win in the all-around, a streak that dates back to the 2013 U.S. Championships when she won her first national title.
She’s dominated the sport since then, setting records at every turn, including being the only woman ever to win four World all-around titles. Her 20 World medals is tied for most by a woman with Russia’s Svetlana Khorkina (though Biles has 14 gold medals to Khorkina’s nine). Three more medals at this season’s World Championships in Stuttgart will match Vitaly Scherbo’s record for most ever.