Athlete A shines the spotlight on abuse in sport

Saturday, 4 July 2020

Trigger warning: this story contains discussions of sexual abuse

Forget Michael Jordan and The Last Dance, Athlete A is the most important sports documentary of 2020.

Sexual assault and sport. It's an uncomfortable pairing, but Athlete A, released on Netflix last week, puts the spotlight on the bravery of those who spoke up about the years of abuse by USA Gymnastics (USAG) doctor Larry Nassar and the systematic cover-up of now former USAG president Steve Penny.

It was able to happen because of a win-at-all-costs culture, driven from the top down where money, organisational reputation and medals were put ahead of morals. This culture just doesn't happen in gymnastics, it happens in all sports.

Protecting those who participate and engage in sport should be the number one priority for any sports organisation. Team selection, success and medals are the end result but it shouldn't come at a cost.

That cost for these gymnasts was years of abuse, not just physical and sexual abuse, but also psychological and emotional abuse. There was abuse of power by those leading the organisation too.

Abuse has no place in sport. Full stop.

Athlete A should come as a warning to all sports organisations. Now's the time to address their practices and policies regarding the protection of those who are involved, at every level, from community sport to elite.

**READ MORE:

* Ex-USA Gymnastics head pleads not guilty to tampering count

* Former USA Gymnastics head pleads fifth on Larry Nassar questions

* US Olympic swimmer Ariana Kukors accuses former coach of sexual abuse**

Athlete A also highlights what abusers look like. They look like everyone else.

They can be charming and funny. Nassar was described as congenial and quirky. He was able to gain the trust of athletes and get on side when they faced abuse from coaches - Marta and Bela Karolyi who coached 14-year-old Romanian Nadia Comăneci to Olympic gold in 1976, before defecting to the west.

The Karolyis believed for the athletes to be successful they must be small and slight … and young. Athletes as young as 12 were attending their monthly training camps for US Gymnastics at the now closed Karolyi Ranch. Nassar was there too.

Athletes were forced to stave themselves, were told they were fat. Their menstruation and maturation were delayed. They were forced to train and compete with seriously injuries. Parental supervision or contact was not allowed.

There was a culture at the elite level of fear and intimidation, and young girls in this setting were easy to control. Athletes just want to do their best and please this coaches. Olympic selection hung over their heads.

But Nassar was nice to the athletes. He made them laugh, some say. He pretended to be on their side, but then he abused the athletes under the guise of medical treatment.

He stole a part of them.

It's an infuriating documentary. It's infuriating because of the total lack of accountability by those in charge, who knew what was going on but did nothing. They were meant to have the best interests of the athletes at heart.

But it's also inspiring. Survivor after survivor gave statements in court at Nassar's sentencing. It's some of the most compelling viewing in this deeply disturbing but empowering documentary.

Their collective voices present a call to action not just to USAG, but to all sports bodies. This is not ok.

The documentary also speaks to the wider societal issues of victim blaming and the culture of sport. The way the survivors were treated – by USAG, by the public and some media at the time – was abhorrent. At first these women and girls weren't believed. They were harassed and humiliated, but thankfully the journalists at the Indianapolis Star – who broke the story – and the investigators believed them.

More than 500 survivors have come forward, many of them were under age when the abuse by Nassar happened. Nassar spent 29 years with the organisation.

Among the surivors was Athlete A – US Olympic hopeful Maggie Nichols, who told her parents and coach about Nassar's abuse back in 2015. At the time she was ranked second behind Olympic champion Simone Biles – who spoke publicly in 2018 about the abuse she experienced by Nassar. Nichols was one of the first to speak up.

USAG president Penny was informed, and he sat on the information for weeks before taking it to the FBI. It was then buried and Nichols and her family were shut out by USAG. She wasn't selected for the US team for the 2016 Rio Olympics, even though she was one of the best in the country. Her Olympic dreams were over. She was silenced.

Other athletes were silenced too. Some were told they weren't going to be selected if they kept complaining about the abuse. Others were forced to sign non-disclosure agreements, including Olympian McKayla Maroney – who was abused by Nassar at the 2012 London Olympics. She rose to prominence during that time for her reaction to winning a silver medal. But now we know there was something sinister happening to her.

But US Gymnastics had a “wholesome” image to protect. The organisation was raking in millions of dollars worth of sponsorship every year and the US team kept winning medals at the highest levels. USAG even had a policy that if abuse was reported to USAG officials, it wouldn't be passed onto the authorities unless it was signed by an athlete or their parents.

The organisation had more than 50 complaints against abusive coaches before Nassar's abuse came to light. These complaints were buried. They were buried by Penny, who refused to answer questions when facing a congressional hearing into Nassar. He's since been arrested for tampering with evidence in the sexual assault investigation.

While Athlete A is about the Nassar case and USAG's negligence in protecting athletes, it also raises questions about sport culture, rape culture and how the experiences of girls and women are put on the sidelines.

For anyone involved in sport – whether as an athlete, parent, volunteer or administrator – you deserve to participate in a safe environment. Ask the questions of your organisation. Hold those in positions of power accountable for the decisions they make and the policies they put in place. Sport is for everyone and everyone deserves to be safe.

Former US Olympic gymnast Jamie Dantzscher summed it up best at Nassar's sentencing.

“We have the power now,” she said.

WHERE VICTIMS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE CAN GET HELP

Rape Crisis - 0800 88 33 00 (Will direct you to a nearby centre), follow link for information on local helplines

Victim Support - 0800 842 846 (24hr service)

The Harbour, online support and information for those affected by harmful sexual behaviour

Women's Refuge (For women and children) - crisis line available on 0800 733 843

Safe to talk - 0800 044 334, text 4334 or web chat

Male Survivors Aotearoa (For men) - follow link for regional helplines

If you or someone else is in immediate danger call 111.