USA Gymnastics Alleged Abuse Investigation Is Long Overdue

Gymnasts allege abuse; this is a shocking statement. However, it isn’t the first time, and in the hands of USA Gymnastics, may not be the last. In 2013, a lawsuit was filed by Lisa Ganser’s daughter, a Georgia resident. In this lawsuit, two former USA Gymnastics officials admitted under oath that the organization routinely dismissed sexual assault allegations as hearsay unless the allegations came directly from the victim or the victim’s parent(s).

I will never stop being grateful to the Cosby accusers for helping to ensure that people take this seriously https://t.co/xb4xGbDURl

— Chloe Angyal (@ChloeAngyal) September 13, 2016

Legal experts and child advocates alike were incredibly alarmed at the organization’s permissive approach to the situation.

According to the National Sex Offenders Website, “disclosure of sexual abuse is often delayed; children often avoid telling because they are either afraid of a negative reaction from their parents or of being harmed by the abuser. As such, they often delay disclosure until adulthood. Few disclose abuse to authorities or professionals.”

The likelihood that the victim is going to be the individual reporting the abuse is low. It is speculated that this trend may have played a part in the USAG’s adoption of such a flippant policy. Typically, victims don’t allege abuse happening in their childhood until after they are adults. This gives the victims a sense of control and safety. Their abuser can no longer hurt them.

Top executives responsible for gymnasts’ national governing body have, for years, routinely ignored allegations of sexual abuse by coaches of young gymnasts, dating back to the 1990’s.

One example occurred in 1990. An underage gymnast alleged abuse from James Bell, stating that Bell had climbed on top of her while telling her he wanted to remove her pants. In 1991, a ten-year-old gymnast alleged abuse from Bell, saying he had stuck his hand in her shirt and pinched her breast. By 1998, USA Gymnastics had an oversized sexual misconduct complaint file that was continuing to grow. Bell continued to get away with this behavior until he was reported by an employer in Middleton, Rhode Island in 2003 for molesting three young gymnasts. He went on the run in 2004 and was caught last year. He pled guilty to three counts of child molestation in December in Newport County, Rhode Island, and is serving 8 years in prison.

Furthermore, in 1998, USA Gymnastics received a minimum of 4 complaints about another employee, Coach William McCabe. An unnamed gym owner gave the organization a serious warning, stating that McCabe “should be locked in a cage before someone is raped.” However, USA Gymnastics failed to report the allegations. In 1999, according to the federal authorities, McCabe began molesting a minor. He would continue to coach children for the next 7 years until Lisa Ganser became concerned with the nature of his emails to her eleven-year-old daughter. She went to the FBI with these concerns. McCabe was arrested and charged with molesting gymnasts, secretly videotaping girls changing their clothes and posting naked their naked pictures on the internet. In 2006, in Savannah, Georgia McCabe pled guilty to federal charges of sexual exploitation of children and making false statements, and is serving 30 years in prison.

Mark Schiefelbein is yet another example of USA Gymnastic’s failure to report abuse allegations. Years before he was ever charged with the molestation of a ten-year-old Tennessee girl, Mark Schiefelbein had compiled quite a thick file of complaints with USA Gymnastics. In 2002, the girl’s family contacted the police immediately after the young gymnast alleged abuse from Schiefelbein. She stated that Schiefelbein penetrated her with his finger multiple times. For what he called “training purposes,” he videotaped her exposed vagina, “so he would know where not to touch her.” Prosecutors subpoenaed records from the USA Gymnastics bringing the history of complaints against Schiefelbein to light and leaving the girl’s family appalled. In 2003, a jury in Williamson County, Tennessee convicted him of seven counts of aggravated sexual battery and one count of aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor. Schiefelbein is currently serving a 36-year sentence.

In 2011, USA Gymnastics received an in-depth complaint about Marvin Sharp, named 2010 National Women’s Coach of the Year. In this complaint was a description of inappropriate touching of underage girls and a warning to keep Sharp away from children. USA Gymnastics failed to report him for four years. It was only after they were faced with another disturbing allegation about him. A young gymnast alleged abuse from Sharp in which he touched her vagina, trimming her pubic hair and taking explicit pictures. This began when the girl was only 12 years old. Not long after being charged in federal court, Sharp took his own life.

Former USA Gymnastics team doctor, Larry Nassar, accused of sexaul abuse https://t.co/F6fYJBy5la #olympics #sportsathletesgymnastics

— OH NO THEY DIDN’T (@ohnotheydidnt) September 14, 2016

Fast forward to 2016, Dr. Larry Nassar, former USA Gymnastics Doctor, was accused of molesting two Olympic gymnasts. One of the young gymnasts that alleged sexual abuse of Nassar, Rachael Denhollander, said the abuse escalated over five treatments, massaging her genitals, penetrating her vagina and anus with his finger and thumb. He would unhook her bra and massage her breasts. During this abuse, Denhollander’s mother was present; Nassar would position himself and her in such a way that her mother was unable to see what was taking place. This led Denhollander to believe that this was normal, keeping her silent for many years. “I was terrified,” she said.

“I was ashamed. I was very embarrassed. And I was very confused, trying to reconcile what was happening with the person he was supposed to be. He’s this famous doctor. He’s trusted by my friends. He’s trusted by these other gymnasts. How could he reach this position in the medical profession, how could he reach this kind of prominence and stature if this is who he is?”

In regards to these allegations, Nassar has “emphatically” denied any wrongdoing. Matthew Borgula, Nassar’s attorney, states “Dr. Nassar, to the extent of the allegations are against him, adamantly denies any misconduct at this or any other time.” Meanwhile, the other gymnast, who wishes to remain unnamed, has filed a civil suit against USA Gymnastics. The Olympic gymnast alleges USA Gymnastics was aware of the abuse. In response to these allegations, USA Gymnastics reiterated a statement:

“Dr. Nassar is no longer affiliated with USA Gymnastics. Upon learning of athlete concerns USA Gymnastics immediately notified the law enforcement agency, including refraining from making further statements or taking any action that might interfere with the investigation. We are grateful to the athletes for coming forward to share their concerns.”

In August, an IndyStar investigation exposed that USA Gymnastics failed to dispatch allegations of sexual misconduct at its member clubs to law enforcement authorities.

Kaylin Maddox Brietxke’s abuse began with McCabe at age seven; this is what she had to say about USA Gymnastics:

“Any corporation that puts their reputation above safety, honestly, is something I don’t want to be a part of at all…and I was a part of USA Gymnastics for a very long time. It doesn’t matter who you are protecting. It doesn’t matter that they are a part of your organization, and you want to save face? How about saving me?”

[Image by napatcha/AP Images]