Courtney Kiehl, sexual abuse lawyer and survivor abused at the hands of coach Robert Shawler, and Becca Seaborn, abused at the hands of coach Mark Shiefelbein, address IndyStar's investigation into USA Gymnastics' handling of sexual abuse complaints. Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar
More than 100 women spoke on multiple days last week at the Larry Nassar sentencing about their anguish after being sexually abused by the former gymnastics doctor.
Nassar, a former team doctor for USA Gymnastics and Michigan State University, pleaded guilty in November to seven counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and was sentenced Wednesday to 40 years to 175 years in prison. Nassar also was sentenced in December to 60 years in federal prison on child pornography charges to which he's admitted.
►Out of Balance: An IndyStar investigation into USA Gymnastics
►Start of investigation: Larry Nassar's downfall started with an email to IndyStar
►Leadership change: Top executives of USA Gymnastics Board of Directors resign
Here are some of the most impactful moments from the victim impact statements of women who were abused in the Nassar sexual assault cases in Michigan.
Former gymnast Rachael Denhollander was the first woman to publicly accuse Larry Nassar. She spoke in court Wednesday Jan 25 2018. Matthew Dae Smith / Lansing State Journal
Rachael Denhollander: "We are worth the greatest protection that the law can offer"
Former gymnast Rachael Denhollander, who was the first woman to publicly accuse Nassar of sexual abuse, finally had her day in court on Day 7 of the victim testimony. Denhollander said she had described in detail to multiple athletic department personnel at Michigan State University that Nassar assaulted her when he treated her at the age of 15, but her complaints were ignored. "But I was wrong in my firm belief. I was wrong that surely if someone had been aware of what Larry was doing, they would report it." Denhollander also asked that Nassar's sentence send a message to his victims that their lives do matter. "I ask that when we leave this court, we leave knowing that when Larry was sexually aroused and gratified by our violation, when he enjoyed our suffering and took pleasure in our abuse, that it was evil and wrong. I ask that you conduct a sentence that tell us that what was done to us matters. ... that we are worth everything, worth the greatest protection that the law can offer."
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
Kyle Stephens: "They grow into strong women"
Kyle Stephens, who was the first of nearly 100 women to speak on multiple days at Nassar's sentencing, said he sexually abused her repeatedly when she was a child. Stephens said her parents were friends of Nassar's and confronted him when they learned that he was abusing their daughter. "This process has been horrific but surprisingly therapeutic. I am addressing you publicly today as a final step in a statement to myself that I have nothing to be ashamed of." Stephens went on to say, "Perhaps you have figured it out by now, but little girls don't stay little forever. They grow into strong women that return to destroy your world."
Former Olympic gymnast Aly Raisman reads her testimony at the sentencing hearing of former team doctor Larry Nassar. Time
Aly Raisman: "We have our voices"
Aly Raisman, a gold medalist and member of the Fierce Five, testified that Nassar was "so sick." "You do realize now that we, this group of women you so heartlessly abused over such a long period of time, are now a force and you are nothing. The tables have turned, Larry. We are here, we have our voices and we are not going anywhere. Raisman went on to say, "You are so sick, I can't even begin to comprehend how angry I feel when I think of you. You lied to me and manipulated me to think that when you treated me you closed your eyes because you had been working hard, when you were really touching me, an innocent child, to pleasure yourself."
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
Carrie Hogan: "You will never hurt another little girl"
Carrie Hogan, a former gymnast, asked the court to hand down the maximum sentence for Nassar. "I trusted this man, I trusted that he had every intention to heal me, and give me some relief to the excruciating pain I was experiencing. I had no idea that I was being molested. He was so incredibly kind and friendly to me. He really made me feel like he cared about my well-being, when all he really cared about was using me to fulfill his own sick desires. I am so ashamed that I was so blinded to this disgusting game. … But for now I can be at peace knowing that you will never hurt another little girl as long as you live." Hogan then asked the court to impose the maximum sentence, adding "a statement needs to be made that sexual abuse to our children will not be tolerated."
WARNING GRAPHIC LANGUAGE: Olympic gold medalist McKayla Maroney said in a courtroom statement that Michigan State University, the USA Gymnastics and the U.S. Olympic Committee all ignored "red flags" in the Larry Nassar sexual abuse scandal. (Jan. 18) AP
McKayla Maroney: Nassar "left scars on my psyche that may never go away”
McKayla Maroney, another member of the Fierce Five, said in a statement read for her by a prosecutor that Nassar "left scars on my psyche that may never go away.” "How could have Larry Nassar been allowed to assault so many women and girls for more than two decades," her statement read. "The answer to that question lies in the failure of not one, but three major institutions, to stop him: Michigan State University, the United States Gymnastics Association and the United States Olympic Committee. If Michigan State University, USA Gymnastics and the U.S. Olympic Committee had paid attention to any of the red flags in Larry Nassar's behavior, I never would have met him, I never would have been treated by him, I never would have been abused by him. Dr. Nassar was never a doctor. He was in fact, and forever shall ever be, a child molester, a monster of a human being. End of story.
A 15-year-old girl says Michigan State University is still billing her for medical appointments during which she says sports doctor Larry Nassar sexually assaulted her. He faces prison time of at least 25-40 years for molestation. (January 22) AP
Emma Ann Miller: "I'm possibly the last child he will ever assault"
One 15-year-old victim said Michigan State was still billing her for medical appointments with Nassar, during which she says she was sexually abused. "I, too, was sexually assaulted by Larry Nassar, multiple times, at multiple appointments," Emma Ann Miller testified. "My last treatment was in August 2016. A week later he was let go by MSU. I'm possibly the last child he will ever assault." Miller went on to say that she was charged for those appointments by MSU Sports Medicine, adding that her mother "is still getting billed for appointments where I was sexually assaulted."
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►Rachael Denhollander's brave journey: Lone voice to 'army' at Larry Nassar's sentencing
►Moving forward: 7 lessons we can learn from Larry Nassar sentencing
►Reporting's role: What prosecutor said about IndyStar's reporting on Larry Nassar case
Call IndyStar digital producer Dwight Adams at (317) 444-6532. Follow him on Twitter: @hdwightadams.