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Home / Sport

Larry Nassar victim Simone Biles thanks Judge Aquilina

By Cheree Kinnear
NZ Herald·
24 Jan, 2018 09:49 PM3 mins to read

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Simone Biles has thanked Judge Aquilina. Photo / Getty

Simone Biles has thanked Judge Aquilina. Photo / Getty

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 doctor Larry 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.

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"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 💛 pic.twitter.com/b5SMmjZgeW

— Simone Biles (@Simone_Biles) January 24, 2018

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

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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.

View this post on Instagram

To Judge Aquilina : THANK YOU, YOU ARE MY HERO 😭❤️ | 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. | I just wanted to shout out all of the other survivors for being so brave and speaking like the queens that you are while looking at that monster and not letting him destroy you any more. He will no longer have the power to steal our happiness or joy. I stand with every one of you 💛

A post shared by Simone Biles (@simonebiles) on Jan 24, 2018 at 12:03pm PST

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