In a statement on her Twitter account, Olympic gymnast McKayla Maroney says she was molested by US Women’s Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar.<\/p>\n
“I had a dream to go to the Olympics, and the things I had to endure to get there were unnecessary, and disgusting,” wrote Maroney.<\/p>\n
According to Maroney, the abuse began at a training camp when she was 13 and continued until she left the sport.<\/p>\n
“It seemed whenever and wherever this man could find the chance, I was ‘treated,'” detailed Maroney. “It happened in London before my team and I won the gold medal, and It happened before I won my Silver.<\/p>\n
“For me the scariest night of my life happened when I was 15 years old. I had flown all day and night with the team to get to Tokyo. He\u2019d given me a sleeping pill for the flight, and the next thing I know, I was all alone with him in his hotel room getting a \u2018treatment.\u2019 I thought I was going to die that night.”<\/p>\n
Maroney, who is one of more than 100 women to accuse Nassar of sexual abuse, offered four thoughts for combating sexual abuse that seems to run some rampant in our society:<\/p>\n
1) Speak out.
\n2) Hold people, institutions and organizations accountable.
\n3) Educate and prevent, at all costs.
\n4) Offer zero tolerance or protection for abusers.<\/p>\n
\n#MeToo<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/lYXaDTuOsS<\/a><\/p>\n
— mckayla (@McKaylaMaroney) October 18, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n