Simone Biles Shares Reasons for Speaking Out About Larry Nassar: Describes Experience as 'Incredibly Traumatizing'

Simone Biles, a gymnast who was sexually abused by former Team USA doctor Larry Nassar in 2018, has now decided to go public with her past trauma. Biles, who has always been an open and honest book, shared that she chose to go public with her experience because it could help many people. She wanted to be in a good enough place and have the proper help lined up before speaking out, as the traumatizing situation was so overwhelming.

Nassar worked as a physician for Team USA gymnastics and Michigan State University before being indicted on state sexual assault charges. He was charged with 22 counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct with minors in December 2016 and pleaded guilty to all charges. The FBI later discovered child pornography on computer hard drives, which he attempted to discard, and the FBI later discovered child pornography on computer hard drives, which he attempted to discard, and he was arrested on federal charges. He subsequently pleaded guilty to receiving and possessing child pornography and evidence tampering in 2017, earning him a 60-year prison sentence.

Biles came forward with her experience in a lengthy social media message, saying she is not afraid to tell her story anymore and that she will not and should not carry the guilt that belongs to Larry Nassar, USAG [USA Gymnastics], and others. Nassar was sentenced to 40 to 175 years in prison during his initial hearing, and in February 2018, he earned an additional 40 to 125 years in prison during a separate sentencing hearing in Eaton County, Michigan.

Biles had already been diagnosed with anxiety and depression before going public with her Nassar experience, which impacted how she processed the trauma of her past. She has since learned it's "not my guilt to hold" with the help of continued therapy.