Gymnastics – Larry Nassar to stand trial for child abuse in the USA
Former gymnastics doctor, Larry Nassar, is to stand trial in the USA for sexually abusing a girl when she was between 6 and 12 years of age. In addition, he is accused of sexually abusing more than 60 of his former patients and athletes and will have to answer charges relating to possession of child pornography. Nassar had been a team doctor for USA Gymnastics and has treated many of America’s Olympic gymnasts. As such he was in a position of great trust and power within gymnastics, and it was this position that allowed him to have access to and abuse so many girls over such a shockingly long period of time.
The true extent of child abuse in gymnastics in the US and the UK is not yet known, but it is hoped that the courage shown by those people abused by Nassar, will encourage other survivors of abuse in gymnastics to come forwards and seek the justice they deserve.
I am a Senior Solicitor at Bolt Burdon Kemp specialising in Child Abuse claims. If you think you may have a claim, contact me free of charge and in confidence on 020 7288 4857 or at abbiehickson@boltburdonkemp.co.uk for specialist legal advice. Alternatively, you can complete this form and one of the solicitors in the Child Abuse team will contact you. You can find out more about the team here.