Larry Nassar Victims Agree To $380 Million Settlement With USA Gymnastics

On Monday, a $380 million settlement was announced between USA Gymnastics, the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee and the hundreds of female gymnasts who were abused by former national gymnastics team doctor, Larry Nassar. This settlement came during Bankruptcy Court proceedings for USA Gymnastics, which is the national governing body for gymnastics in the United States.

The settlement is one of the largest-ever for a sexual abuse case, which has shed light on a dark and disturbing chapter in sports history. More than 500 current and former gymnasts, including Olympic Medalists like Simone Biles, McKayla Maroney and Aly Raisman, will be compensated in this deal.

While the settlement is a victory, attorney and Nassar abuse survivor Rachael Denhollander was quick to point out that “No amount of money will ever repair the damage that has been done and what these women have been through. But at some point, the negotiations have to end because these women need help – and they need it right now.”

Denhollander, 37, was the first woman to accuse Nassar of molestation in an interview with The Indianapolis Star in 2016 and was referred to as the “five-star general” of the survivors by Judge Rosemarie Aquilina, who presided over Nassar’s criminal case in Michigan.

Many survivors of Nassar’s actions are in great need of compensation to pay for mental health treatment due to anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. USA Gymnastics filed for bankruptcy in 2018, and the U.S.O.P.C. initially claimed it shouldn’t be responsible for contributing to a settlement. While most of the payout will be paid by insurers, U.S.O.P.C. will now be contributing $34 million of its own money and $6 million in the form of a loan to USA Gymnastics to the settlement as well.

Along with obvious neglect from the Olympic committees involved, Biles, Maroney, Raisman and former national team member Maggie Nichols testified to Congress that they felt the F.B.I. mishandled its investigation of Nassar’s abuse as well.