British Gymnastics mistreatment allegations: Athletes cannot ‘heal’, says Aly Raisman

Raisman was one of many gymnasts who addressed the court at Larry Nassar’s sentencing hearing in 2018. He was sentenced to more than 300 years in jail after being convicted of the abuse of at least 265 women at USA Gymnastics and Michigan State University.

But she has criticised the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) for being “very quiet” on the abuse allegations that have rocked the sport.

“I have been really disappointed but I guess I’m not surprised,” said Raisman.

“I think a lot of the issue with these organisations and the FIG is that these people have been in these positions of power for a really long time and it’s time to take a hard look at who’s working there and ask important questions like why does the FIG think it’s OK to not step in and not do something.

“It’s very clear it’s not just a few people speaking up, it really is a problem with the culture and I think it’s really important for people in leadership to really do the right thing, and if they don’t feel like they have what it takes or they don’t want to then they really shouldn’t be in that position.”

In an open letter, external in July, FIG president Morinari Watanabe said the “bravery” of athletes speaking out gave him hope because “there is a genuine will for change”.

“From the bottom to the top of the pyramid, everyone can and must be part of the solution,” he said in a later statement. “As the sport´s governing body, the FIG can certainly give the impetus but it is all together that we can build a positive culture where everybody can thrive and fully live their passion for the sport.”

Raisman said: “The way that abuse is handled really greatly impacts how we are feeling and so the longer that it takes it really affects our healing and our journey.

“It can be so exhausting and it can be more triggering because we don’t have that control. Every time they make a statement that we don’t agree with, it just feels like another set of triggers and it can just be really exhausting.”

She added: “If our abuse was handled the right way from the beginning I think the trajectory of our healing would be in a very different place.

“And of course if the right precautions and the prevention and education was in place from the very beginning, I don’t believe the abuse would have even happened.”