McKayla Maroney is opening up about years of sexual abuse to shed light on an issue that isn't specific to Hollywood.
Taking part in the #MeToo social media movement on Wednesday, the Olympic gold medalist described being molested by Dr. Larry Nassar, a longtime doctor on the USA Gymnastics team, starting at the age of 13.
Related: Molly Ringwald Describes Years Of Sexual Harassment
Writing on Twitter, the 21-year-old alleged it occurred even before the 2012 London Olympics:
"Dr. Nassar told me that I was receiving 'medically necessary treatment that he had been performing on patients for over 30 years.' It started when I was 13 years old, at one of my first National Team training camps, in Texas, and it didn't end until I left the sport. It seemed whenever and wherever this man could find the chance, I was 'treated.' It happened in London before my team and I won the gold medal, and it happened before I won my silver."
The gymnast continued to describe one particularly frightening incident:
"For me, the scariest night of my life happened when I was 15 years old. I had flown all day and night with the team to get to Tokyo. He'd given me a sleeping pill for the flight, and the next thing I know, I was all alone with him in his hotel room getting a 'treatment.' I thought I was going to die that night."
This is just heartbreaking!!
Dr. Nassar is currently in jail as he was arrested last year on child pornography charges, pleading guilty in July. He also faces 33 charges of criminal sexual misconduct in Michigan and is accused of assaulting more than 100 gymnasts.
You can read her piece in full (below):
#MeToo http://pic.twitter.com/lYXaDTuOsS
— mckayla (@McKaylaMaroney) October 18, 2017
We applaud her bravery for speaking up about the horrifying abuse.
[Image via Twitter.]
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