Olympic Gymnast Simone Biles has thanked Judge Aquilina and called her a "hero" following the sentencing of former sports doctor Larry Nassar.
Nassar, who admitted molesting some of the USA's top gymnasts for years, was sentenced today to 40 to 175 years in prison.
Read more:Gymnastics doctorLarry Nassar sentenced to 40 to 175 years in prison
Aquilina allowed any and all survivors of Nassar's abuse to deliver victim impact statements in the Michigan court, to which more than 150 women testified, including Olympians, Biles, Aly Raisman, Jordyn Wieber, and McKayla Maroney.
Simone Biles posted on Twitter earlier today thanking the Judge.
"To Judge Aquilina : THANK YOU, YOU ARE MY HERO," she wrote.
"Shout out to all of the survivors for being so brave & speaking like the queens that you are while looking at that monster. He will no longer have the power to steal our happiness or joy. I stand with every one of you."
To Judge Aquilina : THANK YOU, YOU ARE MY HERO
&
Shout out to all of the survivors for being so brave & speaking like the queens that you are while looking at that monster. He will no longer have the power to steal our happiness or joy. I stand with every one of you π pic.twitter.com/b5SMmjZgeW
In an Instagram post, Biles wrote: "Although there is not a scripted path to healing. I know it makes me feel relieved that he can no longer hurt any more beautiful souls."
Biles' tweet and Instagram post included a picture of Aquilina with the quote: "Leave your pain here. Go out and do your magnificent things."
Judge Aquilina has praised the victims who have appeared in her court since January 16, calling them "sister survivors," while also assuring them that their perpetrator will pay.
