'We suffered and continue to suffer': Simone Biles, 24, says she is ready to QUIT gymnastics because of ongoing trauma from Larry Nassar abuse - as she brands USAG a 'dumpster fire' over its handling of the case
- Simone, 24, said she thinks she is finally ready to 'step away' from the sport
- The Olympian told Us Weekly that she 'continues to suffer' because the organization USA Gymnastics didn't do 'what was necessary to protect her'
- Back in 2015, news hit the web that Larry, who had worked as the USA Gymnastics doctor for 18 years, had sexually assaulted at least 150 women
- And in September of this year, Simone slammed USA Gymnastics and the FBI for not promptly investigating allegations against Larry
- Now, despite her love for the sport, the gold medalist said she feels like she's constantly being 'hit in the gut' and she doesn't want it to 'cost her her peace'
Famed gymnast Simone Biles has revealed she is ready to quit gymnastics once and for all - just weeks after she testified at a senate hearing about the lasting trauma of the horrific abuse she endured at the hands of pedophile doctor Larry Nassar.
Simone, 24, has wracked up seven Olympic medals over the years - four gold, two silver, and one bronze - making her one of the most decorated gymnasts of all time.
But despite a disappointing run at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, which saw her drop out of five event finals because of struggles with her mental health, Simone has now revealed that she is prepared to 'step away' from the sport once and for all, forgoing a chance to achieve further gold medal success at the Paris 2024 Games.
The Olympian told US Weekly in a new interview that she has 'suffered and continues to suffer' because the organization USA Gymnastics didn't do 'what was necessary to protect her.'
Simone Biles said it may be time for her to quit gymnastics - years after she spoke out at Larry Nassar's sexual assault case, and months after she withdrew from the Tokyo Olympics
Legendary: Simone, 24, has wracked up seven Olympic medals over the years - four gold, two silver, and one bronze. But now, it may be time for her to 'step away'
Speaking out: In a new interview, she said she has 'suffered and continues to suffer' because the organization USA Gymnastics didn't do 'what was necessary to protect her.'
'Everything that I’ve been through with the organization of USAG just makes for a sticky situation,' she told the outlet.
'It just sucks. And it’s, like, I love the sport so much, but I feel like it’s just a hit to the gut every time something comes out or new information has been revealed.
'We suffered and continue to suffer, because no one at FBI, USAG, or the USOPC did what was necessary to protect us.'
Back in 2015, it was revealed that Larry, who had worked as the USAG doctor for 18 years, had sexually assaulted at least 150 women, including Simone, and fellow Team USA Olympians Aly Raisman, McKayla Maroney, and Jordyn Wieber.
He was sentenced to up to 175 years in prison in 2018.
However the scandal surrounding the abuse case - and its handling by USAG and the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee - has continued to spark controversy and outrage, with dozens of gymnasts blasting the organizations over the Nassar case.
In September of this year, Simone spoke out against USAG and the FBI for failing to promptly investigate allegations against Nassar during a powerful speech to the Senate, in which she opened up about the lasting trauma she has suffered as a result of the abuse she endured.
Now, although Simone said she still 'loves the sport' and the 'girls that she trained with,' she has confessed that she doesn't know if she can move forward with the organization.
Back in 2015, news hit the web that Larry (pictured), who had worked as the USAG doctor for 18 years, had sexually assaulted 150 women. He was sentenced to up to 175 years in prison
Simone previously slammed USA Gymnastics and the FBI for not promptly investigating allegations against Larry during a powerful speech to the Senate
'I love the sport. I love the people that I work with. I love the girls that I trained with, but those organizations, it’s just like - ugh,' Simone said in the new interview.
'It’s just like a huge dumpster fire that we’re trying to get rid of and that I’m trying to stay as far away from so that my mental health can be intact and if I do decide to train again that I have a clean slate.'
When the gold medalist headed to Tokyo to compete in the 2020 Olympics over the summer, she stunned everyone after she announced that she was withdrawing from four out of five event finals to focus on her mental health.
At the time, she said she was suffering from something called 'the twisties' - a mental block that causes gymnasts to feel like they are 'lost in the air.'
'The mental aspect obviously got me during Tokyo and it’s, like, some of those things you can’t ignore and my body didn’t ignore. If we can keep that under control, I would love to train again,' she added.
'But then, at the end of the day, if it costs me my peace, I’m going to step away. And I’m completely fine with stepping away because I’ve been through so much. I’ve accomplished so much.'
When Simone competed in the 2020 Olympics over the summer, she stunned everyone when she withdrew from four out of five event finals to focus on her mental health
Despite her love for the sport, the gold medalist said in the new interview that she feels like she's constantly being 'hit in the gut'
She explained: 'At the end of the day, if it costs me my peace, I’m going to step away. And I’m completely fine with stepping away because I’ve been through so much'
Simone is happily dating a guy named Jonathan Owens (pictured). They made their relationship Instagram official in August 2020
She recently shared an adorable picture of them rocking matching sneakers to her Instagram Stories
When she's not competing, Simone is doing what any any normal 24 year old does - including playing with her dog and getting matching sneakers with her boyfriend, Jonathan Owens, which she showcased on Instagram hours after the interview hit the web.
She and Jonathan made their relationship Instagram official in August 2020, and have been pretty much couple goals since then. Most recently, she revealed that he bought her a new Apple Watch because hers broke.
During a previous interview for Athleta, Simone said that pulling out of the Olympics made her 'feel human' for the 'first time.'
'Over the years, because I've been so dominant, everybody [has supported] the gymnastics and praised me for what I've done in the gym and not really outside [of it],' she said.
'Once I took a step back, I obviously was expecting to feel a lot of backlash and embarrassment. But it's the complete opposite. And that's the first time I felt human. Besides "Simone Biles," I was Simone - and people kind of respected that.'
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