The short version
- Judge Rosemarie Aquilina states that meaningful change has not occurred in the decade since Larry Nassar’s sentencing, citing a continued prioritization of medals over human rights.
- Advocacy groups and human rights experts argue that while new safeguarding policies exist across sports, their implementation remains weak and defensive rather than transformative.
- The gathering coincides with World Gymnastics’ upcoming selection of a new secretary general, presenting a critical window for structural reform.
A decade after the exposure of Larry Nassar’s widespread sexual abuse within USA Gymnastics, the judge who sentenced him warns that the sport has failed to implement meaningful safety reforms. Judge Rosemarie Aquilina, who oversaw the proceedings resulting in a sentence of up to 175 years for Nassar, stated that the current landscape still prioritizes financial gain and competitive accolades over the fundamental human right of child safety. Her comments were made against the backdrop of the World Gymnastics Championships in Rotterdam, where survivors and advocates have gathered to demand accountability.
Aquilina emphasized that superficial adjustments are insufficient given the scale of the original crimes. She noted that despite some visible efforts by organizations to appear compliant, the core culture remains unchanged. The judge argued that this stagnation is not limited to gymnastics but reflects a broader societal failure in courts, classrooms, and legislatures. According to her assessment, the driving force behind this inertia is a persistent willingness to sacrifice athlete well-being for notoriety and victory.
Activists from Gymnasts for Change International joined Aquilina in Rotterdam to highlight the disconnect between policy statements and actual practice. Claire Heafford, chief executive of the organization and a survivor of abuse, described the current environment as one where survivors are still not being heard. She attributed the lack of progress to institutional fear and rigid hierarchies that stifle creativity and empowerment among those attempting to drive change from within the system.
Human rights experts suggest that the initial reckoning following Nassar’s arrest took a defensive shape rather than a transformative one. Minky Warden of Human Rights Watch observed that while whistleblower protections and safeguarding rules have been introduced across various sports, their enforcement is lacking. Warden compared the current state of sports governance to the historical handling of abuse in religious institutions, noting that abusive individuals were often moved between jurisdictions rather than removed, allowing patterns of harm to continue unchecked.
The issue extends beyond gymnastics to a wide range of athletic disciplines. Interviews with survivors across fifty different sports reveal that the severity and duration of abuses have not significantly decreased. The initial shock of Nassar’s case prompted a global review, but many organizations responded by fortifying their defenses rather than dismantling the structures that enabled abuse. This defensive posture has allowed systemic problems to persist under the guise of compliance.
Implementation gaps remain a critical concern even where policies exist. Eloise Jotischky, a former elite acrobatic gymnast who won a civil case against British Gymnastics, pointed out that organizations have introduced rules regarding weight management and hydration. However, she stressed that these measures are ineffective without rigorous monitoring and enforcement. The presence of written policies does not equate to cultural change if they are not actively upheld by leadership.
Advocates argue that World Gymnastics must adopt comprehensive cultural reforms to address the crisis. Kim Shore of Gymnasts for Change Canada noted a similar apathy in Canadian sports, where little action has been taken despite widespread reports of abuse. She suggested that simple, clear prohibitions on harmful practices, such as weighing athletes or allowing competition without medical clearance, could serve as immediate steps toward safety.
The timing of these critiques is significant as World Gymnastics prepares to appoint a new secretary general in the coming months. This leadership transition offers a potential opportunity for genuine structural change. However, survivors and legal experts warn that without a commitment to prioritizing human rights over institutional reputation, the cycle of abuse and neglect is likely to continue.
The gathering in Rotterdam underscores the ongoing struggle for accountability in international sports. While some progress has been made in athlete advocacy, the fundamental power dynamics remain skewed against those seeking protection. The consensus among critics is that true reform requires more than new rules; it demands a shift in values that places safety above medals and money.
As the championships conclude, the pressure remains on governing bodies to translate rhetoric into action. The legacy of the Nassar case continues to haunt the sport, serving as a reminder of the consequences of institutional failure. Whether the upcoming leadership changes will result in meaningful improvement or merely cosmetic adjustments remains to be seen.
Sources behind this briefing
Go to the original reporting
- The Guardian US↗‘Money and medals over safety’: Nassar judge warns gymnasts are still being failed
