Aly Raisman appeared in a Michigan courtroom Friday to face Larry Nassar and speak at the sentencing hearing for the former USA Gymnastics doctor whom she says abused her.
The six-time Olympic medal-winning gymnast had previously said she wasn’t going to appear at the hearing to sentence Nassar, who has been accused of sexually abusing more than 140 women, including many recent Olympic gymnasts.
Raisman spoke to Nassar and to the sentencing judge to plead for the maximum sentence possible for Nassar, who admitted to seven counts of assault as part of a plea deal.
“You took advantage of our passions and our dreams,” Raisman said, calling Nassar “sick,” CBS News reported. “I am here to face you, Larry, so you can see I have regained my strength. That I am no longer a victim, I am a survivor.”
“You do realize that this group of women you so heartlessly abused over such a long period of time are now a force and you are nothing,” she continued as she addressed Nassar, Fox News reported.
USA Gymnastics also came under fire from Raisman, who said the organization had not shown support or sympathy for her and other victims of Nassar.
“If over these many years, just one adult listened and had the courage and character to act, this tragedy could have been avoided,” she testified, CBS News reported.
Raisman also asked the judge to investigate how the misconduct was allowed to happen and who empowered Nassar to get away with the widespread abuse.
Judge Rosemarie Aquilina praised Raisman for speaking out, saying, “You are part of an unstoppable growing force,” CBS News reported.
Nassar is already serving a sentence of 60 years due to a previous conviction on child pornography charges.
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