‘Repulsive liar’: victims of ex-US Olympic gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar recount sex abuse
Nearly 100 victims expected to address court during four-day sentencing for the disgraced 54-year-old
One after one, gymnasts and other victims of a disgraced former sports doctor stepped forward in a US courtroom on Tuesday to recount the sexual abuse and emotional trauma he inflicted on them as children, including one who warned girls eventually “grow into strong women that return to destroy your world”.
Nearly 100 victims are expected to address the court during the four-day sentencing hearing for 54-year-old Larry Nassar. Many cried as they told their stories on the hearing’s first day, and some requested anonymity. Others unleashed.
“I testified to let the world know that you are a repulsive liar and those ‘treatments’ were pathetically veiled sexual abuse,” victim Kyle Stephens said to Nassar, who often bowed his head and closed his eyes or looked away as she and others spoke.
Stephens, the first victim to speak, said Nassar repeatedly abused her from age 6 until age 12 during family visits to his home in Holt, near Lansing in Michigan. She said he rubbed his genitals on her and digitally penetrated her, among other abuse.
She said Nassar denied it, and her parents initially believed him. Stephens said she largely blamed her father’s suicide on the shame and self-loathing he felt for defending Nassar.