Aly Raisman says Olympics coach was in car when gymnasts discussed Nassar abuse in 2011
"John Geddert was in the car with us and he just didn't say anything."
Olympic gold medalist Aly Raisman says a fellow gymnast discussed being sexually assaulted by Larry Nassar in the presence of former coach John Geddert, five years before the former USA Gymnastics team doctor was first arrested.
In an interview Thursday with CNN, the Needham native said Geddert was in the same car when one of her teammates described what Nassar had done to her in 2011.
“We would talk about it amongst ourselves,” Raisman said. “And one of my teammates described in graphic detail what Nassar had done to her the night before. And John Geddert was in the car with us and he just didn’t say anything.”
Olympic gold medalist @Aly_Raisman says her former Olympic team coach John Geddert might have known about sexual abuse by former team doctor Larry Nassar as early as 2011 https://t.co/xQbL7XGzQQ pic.twitter.com/jnPFvfFG3W
— The Lead CNN (@TheLeadCNN) February 8, 2018
“I don’t know what he did or didn’t do from there,” Raisman told CNN. “I know he didn’t ask us any questions, but that just is why we need the full independent investigation to really get to the bottom of who knew about this.”
CNN reported Geddert’s lawyer did not respond when the network reached out about Raisman’s comments.
Geddert coached the 2012 U.S. Olympic Gymnastics team, known as the “Fierce Five,” and retired last month shortly after he was indefinitely suspended by USA Gymnastics. Local law enforcement officials in Michigan confirmed earlier this week that they had launched an investigation into unspecified complaints against Geddert, who worked with Nassar for more than two decades.
Raisman said Thursday that she and her fellow gymnasts often talked about the abuse by Nassar, adding that “the fact” that they were overheard by Geddert and at least one other person during another training camp was concerning.
“We need an investigation,” she said, reiterating her calls for an independent investigation of the U.S. Olympic Committee and USA Gymnastics.
ESPN reported last month that the coach created a culture of fear at his training club in Michigan, which allegedly enabled Nassar’s repeated abuse.
Raisman is just one of more than 200 women, including fellow gold medalists McKayla Maroney and Gabby Douglas, who have said they were abused by Nassar. The 54-year-old was sentenced last month to 40 to 175 years in prison for his admitted sexual abuses, on top of a previous 60-year federal child pornography sentence.
Raisman’s courtroom victim statement during Nassar’s sentencing hearing made national waves last month.
“Imagine feeling like you have no power and no voice,” she said. “Well, you know what, Larry? I have both power and voice, and I’m only beginning to just use them.”
The 23-year-old has also strongly criticized USA Gymnastics, the sport’s national governing body, for its lack of action when athletes spoke out about Nassar’s abuse and has called the recent resignations of three of the organization’s board members insufficient.
