I continue to be in awe of my teammates and other women and the bravery it took for them to come forward with their own stories of Larry Nassar’s abuse. All week long I have been a witness to their testimonies live on my computer. They all inspire me with their courage. To compete on the biggest stage of our lives, while knowing the man on the floor with us was a monster, takes incredible fortitude and strength. His actions and assaults against my teammates, friends and other women are appalling and disgusting and I am so sorry they had to go through it alone.
This is an apology to anyone who had the perception I was not in complete support of my teammates and the women who have suffered at the hands of Larry Nassar. When I first found out about Larry’s disgusting crimes, I was completely shocked. I couldn’t believe the man I trusted and had even publicly thanked for helping to heal my injuries was a monster to so many people I care so much about. One of the first times I was asked about this was on national television and I was completely caught off guard. I realized I gave the impression I was not fully supportive of my teammates. I stumbled through my words because I couldn’t even begin to process my thoughts, let alone my words, about his abhorrent and criminal actions.
This letter is also a commitment from me, to help create positive change and a brighter future. As a small first step, I have requested that all proceeds (ticket sales, merchandise sales, and any and all other revenue) from the Nastia Liukin Cup this March will be donated to an organization which supports victims of sexual abuse. I am currently doing my due diligence to find the right organization.
My hope is this is the beginning of positive change. I will do everything in my power to help our next generation never have to go through what my teammates went through. I, like so many others, believe many things could have been handled differently by USA Gymnastics. Many have written me asking why I continue to support them. Please believe me when I say I do NOT support the things I have read about or heard about. I do however support the future of gymnastics as a whole. I hope young women like Morgan, Ragan, Riley, Maile, and so many others will one day feel safe within the sport, and can continue striving to achieve their own dreams. I am here for not just these young athletes but for all young women who want and deserve to feel and to be safe.
Looking towards the future, my father is now the Women’s National Team Coach. He has been there as an athlete, a coach, and most importantly a father. He, as much as anyone else, wants to change the culture and environment of this program. The first step was offering one of his two gyms, WOGA in Texas, as a temporary place for the Women’s National Team while they search for a new Training Center. He continues to stay committed to providing a safe environment for these young women working so hard at a sport we all love so much.
To all the women who have come forward: you are my role models, my heroes, and I will forever respect you and be inspired by your bravery and commitment to making our world a better and safer place.
Xoxo
To those people who have commented blaming the parents for their children’s abuse and your “let’s move on” attitude.
How dumb to you really think we are? Do you honestly think we didn’t talk to our daughters about sexual abuse and how to protect themselves and to come to us? Let me tell you I find your comments disgusting. You, and your attitude and your comments are unbelievably selfish and heartless. These young girls had dreams. Some of them were destroyed. Some of them realized their dreams despite repeated abuse. They sacrificed so much because of their love. Their parents sacrificed so much for their daughter’s love of gymnastics. We tried to protect her. There is no pain like the pain of knowing you were not able to protect your child. How dare you come at the parents. I don’t wish that pain on anyone. And if your 11 year old daughter has to sit out for a year of competing, so be it. That’s what I wish I was hearing from you. That you care enough about your daughter and her love of this sport that you would make that small sacrifice to protect her future and to show the girls and women before her that you truly support them. That’s what I would’ve done if I were in your place. That’s how you could show these girls that what they did by coming forward matters. They stood up, again, and sacrificed their privacy and shared their pain. The least you can do is stand up with them.
Nastia,
Your gesture is very kind and well thought out ,and I am sure that it will do much good.
It will take the experts quite awhile to dissect how this was able to happen on such a grand scale.
Monsters like this man, groom their victims and often the parents and other adults very well. This is the reality . There is a lot of education that must happen and all of our children will be safer.
Nastia,
I am glad you finally spoke up. It’s funny that just yesterday morning, hours before you posted this, I was thinking to myself, “Where the heck are Shawn and Nastia in all of this?!” Between the perfectly manicured Instagram photos and sponsored posts, one would think that you two would have found the time to offer support to your teammates, who have courageously been coming forward one by one to shed light on this horrific wound that has been festering at USAG and MSU for decades.
I have always been an ardent fan of yours, and as an ex-ballet dancer and lifelong gymnastics fan, I admired your grace and precision in the 2008 quad. You have chosen a public career following your own gymnastics career, though, and that comes with responsibility. Yes, it must make things complicated to have a father who is employed by USAG. Yes, it must make things complicated to be employed yourself by a national TV network. But stepping forward MUCH earlier to openly support the brave women who were victimized by Nassar would have shown true character. I’m glad you are finally addressing it, but it really feels like too little, too late.
You are in a unique position in that you have not only experience with USAG culture at a time when this was all going on, but also that you now have a platform — people are counting on you to use it for good. Implore your father to address these issues. Implore your co-commentators in upcoming gymnastics events to discuss this frankly and intelligently (not sure Trautwig would be up to the task). That’s great that you will be donating the proceeds this spring. Maybe you can go further and work with your friends and former teammates to find out how else you can help.
The future generation of gymnasts is waiting in the wings, and you have the power to help shape it for them — please do everything you can. Keep apologizing, keep donating, keep speaking out, keep talking about it. The culture is changing — your courage and character in how you address those changes is far more important than glam selfies on Instagram.
Nastia,
Thank you for your encouraging words, reading your thoughts on this matter is important to those who suffered. It is important to me.
Sincerely,
Amanda
Dear Nastia, I am the mom of 3 young gymnasts. I like what you say and
That you will be donating money. I however wish that you and your Dad would come out and speak publicly on this issue ….put your face, your brand and your voice out in public more and demand accountability of USAG and the USOC! These governing bodies have ignored the voices of even their most elite gymnasts for too long! Please stand up and use your platform! Thank you, Katie R., Chicago IL.
I hope more is done to change within USAG.
‘Remember me guys!’ – says Nastia, YEARS after laughing off the abuse allegations and trying to discredit the brave ones who spoke out. She’s like a chameleon, she’ll say whatever favors her in the current climate. Not sure where her ‘prayers and kisses’ were when the gymnastics community was making the sole survivors sound like crazy people.
Thank you for your post. My daughter is a level 6 gymnast and we love this sport soo much as a family. I am happy to see that your dad is the new head coach and will be an excellent role model and example to team USA. Change will happen it just takes time, at least the silence is broken and healing can begin. We love this sport, thank you for your support and donations.
I’m so happy to be reading this letter from you Nastia. Also because I think this letter goes far more from gymnastics and also talks to people who have been sexually abused in other ways or not by Larry Nassar. People like me. I have been sexually abused by two people who gave me therapy, a women and last my brother.
Nastia,
I was 14 and a level 8 when you won the Olympic gold, and I felt inspired then. When I was 18 and had moved from gymnastics to college track, I watched as you attempted to make the 2012 team, and I will forever be inspired by the moment you got back up after a fall and finished a routine.
Now, I am a second-year law student and you have again inspired me. As I pursue a legal career, I am passionate about advocating for survivors, and I am encouraged by your thoughtful, active response. I just want to say thank you for serving as a role model for me as a young gymnast, and thank you for serving as a role model for all of us attempting to make a positive change around this issue. Your thoughts and kindness mean the world, and your actions are well on the way to changing it. Thank you for using your platform as a force for good and for contributing a powerful voice to the conversation around sexual assault.
Keep shining!
Not entirely believing the genuine nature of this latest post. It’s so great that you were not abused!! For everyone who was passed upon that horror, I say winderful! For anyone who escaped because they were privileged, and had those around them be on the other side of this conversation, I say it’s so unfair. And THIS must never happen again
I really love gymnastics, and lucky I have a community that is very strong and compact in that regard.
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