Raisman to Nassar: 'We have our voices and we are not going anywhere'
LANSING -- Three-time Olympic gold-medal-winning gymnast Aly Raisman called for sweeping changes in her sport while addressing serial abuser Larry Nassar during his sentencing hearing Friday.
Raisman told Nassar that she would not rest until his influence was erased from the sport she loves.
"The tables have turned, Larry," Raisman said. "We are here. We have our voices and we are not going anywhere. And now, Larry, it’s your turn to listen to me.”
More:Read Aly Raisman's full statement to Larry Nassar
Raisman said she is no longer the little girl Nassar met and began grooming at a competition in Australia.
"Imagine how it feels to be an innocent teenager in a foreign country, hearing a knock on the door and it’s you," Raisman said. "I didn’t want you to be there but I don't have a choice. Treatments with you were mandatory. You took advantage of that. You even told on us if we didn't want to be treated by you."
Raisman also took the opportunity to target the failings of USA Gymnastics and the U.S. Olympic Committee. She said on the very day USA Gymnastics announced it was parting ways with a training center at the Karolyi Ranch in Texas, there were athletes still training at the facility.
“It’s clear now, if you leave it up to these organizations, history is likely to repeat itself,” Raisman said.
In remarks directed at the new president of USA Gymnastics, who was in the courtroom earlier in the week, Raisman said "You have taken on an organization that I feel is rotting from the inside."
She noted that Nassar served on boards within USA Gymnastics and the U.S. Olympic Committee where he was the "architect" of the very policies meant to protect athletes. Raisman said Nassar was the person gymnastics officials had "take the lead of athlete care" and provide "the foundation for our medical system."
"I will not rest until every last trace of your influence on this sport has been destroyed like the cancer it is,” Raisman said.
Raisman arrived in court at 9 a.m. accompanying her 2012 teammate Jordyn Wieber, who made the first victim statement of the morning. Wieber and Raisman had contacted the Michigan Attorney General's Office earlier this week asking for permission to speak on Friday, officials said.
Nassar pleaded guilty to 10 sexual assault charges prosecuted by the Attorney General's Office. But his plea agreement allowed more than 100 women who have reported that he abused them to make victim impact statements. The Ingham County sentencing began Monday. An Eaton County sentencing is set for Jan. 31.
Nassar was sentenced to 60 years on three child pornography charges by a U.S. District Court judge in December.
Raisman was the first speaker after a late morning break.
After spending time in a small conference room in the courthouse, Raisman took a few moments to mentally prepare herself, pacing in the hallway outside the coutroom.
"I'm ready," she said. "I'm ready I'm ready I'm ready."
Kaylee Lorincz, hobbling out of the courtroom on crutches, stopped to chat.
"We're gonna change things so the next generation doesn't have to deal with this," Raisman said. They hugged.
Lorincz, 18, who first spoke out as a victim after Nassar pleaded guilty to his Ingham County charges in November, also spoke last month at a Michigan State University Board of Trustees meeting.
Lorincz has not yet given her victim impact statement during the sentencing hearing, which continues Monday in Judge Rosemarie Aquilina's courtroom.
"I'm gonna watch you on Monday," Raisman told Lorincz. "I'm not gonna be here but I'll watch you. I'm rooting for you."
Shortly after the hearing broke for lunch, Raisman declined to comment further before leaving the courthouse.
Contact Reporter Beth LeBlanc at 517-377-1167 or eleblanc@gannett.com.