Another Olympic gold medalist, Jordyn Wieber, has come forward to say that she too was sexually assaulted by former sports doctor Larry Nassar. "I was not protected and neither were my teammates," she said. (Jan. 19) AP
LANSING — Jordyn Wieber, a DeWitt native and 2012 Olympic gold medalist, is in court today to make a victim impact statement about Larry Nassar.
"I thought that training for the Olympics would be hardest thing I would ever have to do. But the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do is process that I am a victim of Larry Nassar." she said.
It is the first time she has spoken publicly about Nassar since the sex abuse scandal became public in 2016.
Wieber is the fourth member of the Fierce Five — the nickname given to the 2012 U.S. women’s gymnastics team — to say Nassar sexually abused her, joining Gabby Douglas, McKayla Maroney and Aly Raisman.
Raisman accompanied Wieber to Judge Rosemarie Aquilina’s courtroom this morning and also is expect to make a statement.
Wieber said she began seeing Nassar at age 8, but first had the treatment that has resulted criminal charges after an injury when she as 14.
WATCH LIVE:Day 4 of Larry Nassar's sentencing hearing
How will the sentencing of Larry Nassar impact Michigan State University and USA Gymnastics? Time
For a second day, gymnasts and other victims of a disgraced former sports doctor stepped forward in a Michigan courtroom Tuesday to recount the sexual abuse and asked the judge for the maximum sentence. (Jan. 17) AP
As more victims came forward in court to describe how disgraced former sports doctor Larry Nassar abused them, the coach of one victim told Nassar "to go to hell," and explained how Nassar violated the trust of so many people. (Jan. 17) AP
Kyle Stephens was the first victim of nearly 100 to speak Tuesday at a sentencing hearing for Larry Nassar. Stephens, whose parents were friends with the now disgraced doctor, said he repeatedly sexually abused her when she was a child. (Jan. 16) AP
Olympic gymnast Simone Biles has joined the list of numerous athletes who have accused former USA Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar of sexual abuse Time
Former USA Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar was sentenced to 60 years in federal prison on child pornography charges. Time
Michigan sports doctor admits he sexually assaulted female gymnasts and possessed child pornography. Larry Nassar pleaded guilty in a third criminal case, acknowledging that he molested girls who sought treatment for injuries. (Nov. 29) AP
Olympic gymnastics gold medalist McKayla Maroney and her family are seeking the maximum sentence for former USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar, who is scheduled to be sentenced Thursday after being charged with child porn crimes. Time
Over 140 women have accused Larry Nassar of sexual abuse. USA TODAY Sports
Many of the women who accused Larry Nassar of sexual abuse say the former USA Gymnastics doctor's apology during a court hearing was insufficient. AP
Three-time Olympic gold medalist Gabby Douglas revealed that she was also abused by former USA Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar. Time
Aly Raisman said she, too, was sexually abused by USA Gymnastics’ longtime team physician Larry Nassar. USA TODAY Sports
Olympic gold medalist McKayla Maroney released a statement on Twitter claiming that was sexually abused by former USA Gymnastics team physician Larry Nassar. USA TODAY Sports
A six-month investigation has found that U.S. Gymnastics needs a 'complete cultural change' following its handling of sexual abuse complaints. USA TODAY Sports
Former USA Gymnastics team physician Dr. Larry Nassar is facing multiple sexual abuse allegations. USA TODAY
A former gymnast testified Friday that she turned to a prominent Michigan sports doctor for treatment of back problems but instead was repeatedly molested as a teenager, assaults that have haunted her for nearly two decades. (May 12) AP
USA TODAY Sports' Rachel Axon describes how USA Swimming asked the USOC for assistance in dealing with issues related to protecting young athletes, six years before USA Swimming was hit with a sex scandal.
A former doctor for the USA Gymnastics team pleaded not guilty to felony sexual assault charges Tuesday for allegedly assaulting a young girl in his Michigan home. (Nov. 22) AP
Larry Nassar, a doctor who treated America's Olympic gymnasts, was arrested and charged Monday with criminal sexual conduct against a child. USA TODAY
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She said she discussed the treatment with teammates, saying it made her uncomfortable. She said she accepted the need for treatments in order to keep competing.
"To this day, I don't know how he could have been allowed to do this for so long," she said.
She spoke in detail of the access USA Gymnastics gave to Nassar, allowing him to treat gymnasts in hotel rooms, at national training camps and other venues, often being alone with the gymnasts.
"I am angry with myself for not recognizing the abuse, and that's something I'm struggling with today," Wieber said.
"The people who are responsible need to accept accountability," she said.
Friday is the fourth day of Nassar’s sentencing hearing. He pleaded guilty in November to seven first-degree criminal sexual conduct charges here in Ingham County. On Jan. 31, he’ll be sentenced on three of the same charges in Eaton County, where he also pleaded guilty in November. The plea deals mirrored each other and set the range for the low end of Nassar sentence between 25 and 40 years in prison, with the maximum sentence being up to life. The plea deal included a provision that more than 100 women and girls be given the chance to give an impact statement, if they wanted to do so.
The Michigan Attorney General’s Office has asked for Nassar to be sentenced to 40 to 125 years in prison, the high end representing a year for every woman and girl who reported to police that Nassar abused them. Those 125 women and girls include gymnasts, former gymnasts, former Michigan State University athletes, former patients of Nassar’s and a woman he sexually abused in his home when she was a child.
Nassar worked for MSU and with USA Gymnastics for decades.
On Thursday, Assistant Attorney General Angela Povilaitis, the lead prosecutor in Nassar’s case, read a written statement from Maroney.
When she was 15, Maroney said in her statement, Nassar gave her a sleeping pill for a flight to Tokyo. When she woke up, she was in Nassar’s hotel room, getting "treatment.”
“I had a dream to go to the Olympics, and the things that I had to endure to get there, were unnecessary, and disgusting,” Maroney said.
Like many of the victims who have addressed the judge, Maroney criticized USA Gymnastics and MSU for failing to stop Nassar.
“A question that has been asked over and over is: How could have Larry Nassar been allowed to assault so many women and girls for more than two decades?” Maroney said. “The answer to that question lies in the failure of not one, but three major institutions to stop him — Michigan State University, USA Gymnastics and the United States Olympic Committee.”
Friday had been scheduled to be the conclusion to a four-day sentencing hearing, which last week was expected to include victim-impact statements from 88 women and girls. That number increased each day of the hearing, reaching 105 by Thursday morning.
Nassar is now expected to be sentenced on Monday, with the judge saying Tuesday is also a possibility.
In December, a federal judge sentenced Nassar to 60 years in prison on three child pornography charges. He must serve the entirety of his federal sentence before serving any time on the state charges.