TIME’S UP

Olympic Gymnast Simone Biles: Larry Nassar Abused Me Too

“We need to know why this was able to take place for so long and to so many of us.”

Olympic gymnast Simone Biles came forward Monday to say she too was sexually abused by USA Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar, who will be sentenced this week after pleading guilty to several counts of criminal sexual conduct. “There are many reasons that I have been reluctant to share my story, but I know now that it is not my fault,” she wrote in a statement on Twitter. “It is not normal to receive any type of treatment from a trusted team physician and refer to if horrifyingly as the ‘special’ treatment,” she said, echoing allegations made by her fellow gymnasts. More than 140 female athletes have accused Nassar—the team doctor through four Olympic Games—of abusing them, including McKayla Maroney, Gabby Douglas, and Aly Raisman. Biles also placed part of the blame on USA Gymnastics, saying the guilt “belongs to Larry Nassar, USAG, and others.” “We need to know why this was able to take place for so long and to so many of us. We need to make sure something like this never happens again,” she wrote.