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It has been less than a year since Larry Nassar pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a large number of his patients, whom he has sometimes encountered as part of his work as a gymnastics doctor in the United States. Among these ranks are some of the most famous and most decorated sports champions: Simone Biles, Gabby Douglas, Aly Raisman and many others.
USA Gymnastics, which governs the sport from the local level to the elite US Olympic teams, has struggled to regroup, plunged into cycles of mistrust and non-transparency. It is led by a large number of CEOs. He is being chased by everyone. He still has not considered his role in allowing Nassar to continue to operate despite the complaints.
The organization is a disaster, a remnant of a diabolical damning sport. And now, he is out of breath.
This will not be missed.
The US Olympic Committee has taken the first steps to revoke its status as the national governing body of sport.
What does that mean exactly? It is that the USOC no longer sees any way for USAG to function competently in its current form, so that it could just as easily cease to exist.
This creates an entirely new organization – there must be a governing body after all -. It should be a new start for a new era of gymnastics.
"You may be wondering why now?" Said USOC Executive Director Sarah Hirshland in an open letter to US gymnasts. "The short answer is that we believe that the challenges the organization faces are simply greater than what it is able to overcome in its current form. We have been working closely with the new USAG Board of Directors in recent months to support it, but despite the diligent efforts, the NGB continues to struggle. And it's not fair for the country's gymnasts.
"Just a few weeks ago, I hoped the way forward would be different. But now we think it's no longer possible, "said Hirshland.
Last month, Mary Bono, CEO of USAG, resigned after just four days of work. She had been criticized for her connection with the law firm Faegre Baker Daniels, who was working with USAG on how to handle Nassar's complaints of sexual violence. Bono did not work on the case. However, it was problematic that after consulting the firm, the allegations would not be immediately revealed, alerting other victims or potential victims. She had also condemned the protests of former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick.
"My teammates and I reported Nassar's abuse to USAG in 2015," Raisman said in a tweet. "We now know USOC and the lawyers of Faegre Baker Daniels [Mary Bono’s firm] They were also told at that time, though, Nassar continued to mistreat children for 13 months !? Why hire a person associated with the company who helped cover our abuses? "
This was the latest issue of USAG, which failed to win the trust of Nassar's victims, especially Raisman. The USOC monitored and finally determined that there was nothing left to save.
American gymnastics will start from scratch.
The commitment to sport will not change. Life at the local gym no longer. Or trying to create another team for the gold medal before the 2020 Summer Games in Tokyo. Biles again dominated the world championships last week, recalling that greatness can persevere after a tragedy.
Whatever form the new governing body takes, whatever its commitment to transparency, it must work with the Olympic champions who make their voices heard.
"Over time, the country's gym clubs could become members of a new organization that lives up to the expectations of the athletes and their supporters, including their parents," Hirshland said in his letter. "It would take time and a lot of hard work for many of us, and many of you. I know that collectively, we are up to the task if this task were to be entrusted at the end of this process.
"Today is only the beginning of an important process for gymnastics in the United States. The path is not clear, but our motives are. So we go forward, determined to guarantee the type of organization that each gymnast, as well as the coaches, coaches and club owners who support them, deserve credit. "
This does not make up for the mistakes of the past. This means that the USOC has no more patience for half-attempted reform or rebuilding.
Gymnastics deserves and demands a new and much better organization.
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