Dec 13, 2021 - Sports

Gymnasts reach $380 million settlement over Nassar abuse

Ivana Saric

Olympic gymnasts Simone Biles, McKayla Maroney, Aly Raisman, and Collegiate gymnast Maggie Nichols — Olympic gymnasts (l. to r.) Simone Biles, McKayla Maroney and Aly Raisman, and collegiate gymnast Maggie Nichols at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Sept. 15. Photo: Saul Loeb/AFP/Bloomberg via Getty Images

USA Gymnastics and the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee have reached a $380 million settlement with hundreds of U.S. gymnasts abused by former national team doctor Larry Nassar, the New York Times reported.

Driving the news: The settlement marks the end of a five-year legal battle and will compensate hundreds of gymnasts who were assaulted by Nassar and others over three decades, per the Wall Street Journal.

The monetary sum is also one of the largest ever in a sexual abuse case.

State of play: The settlement was announced Monday during a bankruptcy proceeding for USA Gymnastics in Indiana, per the Times.

Insurers of USA Gymnastics and the USOPC will fund most of the settlement, with USOPC paying $34 million and loaning USA Gymnastics $6 million for its own contribution, according to the Journal.
Many gymnasts — including Olympic gold medalists Aly Raisman and Simone Biles — have spent years mediating with the sports federation. The settlement will go to over 500 athletes and will help cover medical care needed as a result of the abuse, per the Times.

The big picture: Nassar was sentenced to a minimum of 100 years in prison in 2018 after 160 women accused him of sexually abusing them under the pretense of medical treatment.

In July, the FBI's inspector general issued a scathing report highlighting the "numerous and fundamental errors" in how the bureau handled its investigation into Nassar.
In September, FBI Director Christopher Wray formally apologized to survivors for the agency's mishandling of the investigation.

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Gymnasts reach $380 million settlement over Nassar abuse

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