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Home / Sport

Larry Nassar victim says she was sexually abused in front of teammates and coaches

By Cheree Kinnear
NZ Herald·
23 Jan, 2018 10:51 PM2 mins to read

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Gymnast Mattie Larson says she was molested by Nassar in the presence of friends and coaches. Photo / Getty

Gymnast Mattie Larson says she was molested by Nassar in the presence of friends and coaches. Photo / Getty

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A former USA gymnastics champion said she was sexually abused by former sports doctor Larry Nassar in front of friends and coaches.

More than 150 women accused the former USA Gymnastics doctor of sexual assault, all of which have delivered victim impact statements in court this week.

Read more: href="http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11980176" target="_blank">Judge: Victims of disgraced sports doc Larry Nassar are 'sister survivor warriors'

Mattie Larson told the court on Wednesday (NZT) that she was first molested by Nassar when she was 14 years old and he did so repeatedly at the isolated Karolyi Ranch in Texas - a training facility that is now under investigation.

Larson said Nassar would abuse her in the lounge were her teammates were watching television, and often in the presence of coaches and trainers.

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"If he is doing this in front of my friends, it can't be that bad, right?" she said.

"Larry, you were the only one I trusted ... In the end, you turned out to be the scariest monster of all."

Read more: Larry Nassar eviscerated by judge after stating he cannot sit through victim statements

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"Turned the sport I fell in love with as a kid into a living hell ... I can't even put into words how much I f****** hate you."

Larry Nassar has had more than 150 women testify in court against him. Photo / Getty
Larry Nassar has had more than 150 women testify in court against him. Photo / Getty

Larson said she used to try and avoid training camps and once deliberately smashed her own head on a bathroom floor to injure herself and pretend she had slipped on a mat.

Elite gymnast Isabel Hutchins also testified in court and said Nassar had once overlooked what turned out to be a broken leg, while he molested her in the basement of his home.

"You were never a real doctor. You did not heal me. You only hurt me," Hutchins told Nassar in court.

Discover more

Sport

Nassar victim Simone Biles says judge is her 'hero'

24 Jan 09:49 PM
Editorial

Editorial: Enormous risk in just letting concerns sit

29 Jan 04:00 PM

Read more: Teen still being billed for appointments with Larry Nassar

She said Nassar did nothing to encourage her to get help and instead molested her during late-night appointments.

Nassar will be sentenced on Thursday (NZT) and could face as many as 125 years in prison.

Three members of the USA Gymnastics (USAG) board of directors quit on Sunday because of the abuse scandal.

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