Episode 1821: Rachael Denhollander, The First Person To Publicly Accuse Larry Nassar, On Speaking Out And The Fight To Make USA Gymnastics Accountable
In August 2016, Rachael Denhollander – an attorney and former club gymnast treated by Larry Nassar – read an Indianapolis Star investigation about USA Gymnastics failing to act on allegations of sexual abuse of young gymnasts by predatory coaches. She realised the time was right for her to come forward and become the first person to speak out publicly about the abuse she suffered as a young woman at the hands of Nassar, a physician at Michigan State University and USA Gymnastics’ national team doctor. That’s exactly what she did.
How the @indystar and Rachael Denhollander took down Larry Nassar https://t.co/JG1G1wju6R pic.twitter.com/SZxEPNeQnC
— CNN (@CNN) January 25, 2018
Four years on and as a result of Rachael’s decision, over 500 women have now come forward to say they were abused by Nassar, who will spend the remainder of his life in prison.
Judge Aquilina to Rachael Denhollander: “You started the tidal wave. You made all of this happen. You made all of these voices matter. Your sister survivors and I thank you. You are the bravest person I have ever had in my courtroom.” https://t.co/KWY1pm3GPO pic.twitter.com/beMPHpCxup
— CBS News (@CBSNews) January 24, 2018
Rachael, who features in Netflix’s new documentary on the case, Athlete A, joins us today to talk about making the decision to speak out despite knowing how victims of sexual abuse are treated when they do, how multiple survivors had tried to raise the flag about Nassar before her but were ignored, and how Nassar was merely a symptom of a systemic problem in gymnastics, one she is still working to fix.
Rachael Denhollander on what she asks judge to consider in sentencing Larry Nassar: “How much is a little girl worth? How much is a young woman worth? Larry is a hardened and determined sexual predator. I know this firsthand.” https://t.co/KWY1pm3GPO pic.twitter.com/wCVjhy6yRu
— CBS News (@CBSNews) January 24, 2018
Rachael also describes how the fight to make USA Gymnastics accountable is still ongoing, and how children will continue to fall victim to abusive coaches and officials within cultures that value sporting success above all else.
EXCLUSIVE: @Aly_Raisman opens up about the USA Gymnastics settlement proposals: “I am heartbroken that this is still going on…for the survivors, for the gymnasts competing, it’s just been dragging on for way too long and it’s just not right.” More tomorrow on @TODAYshow pic.twitter.com/WYwfgf7pyq
— NBC News PR (@NBCNewsPR) March 2, 2020
Click the image at the top of the page to play the show. Monday’s shows are free to all and Isolating with David O’Doherty is free on Mondays and Thursdays – to listen to our programming throughout the rest of the week, join the Second Captains World Service. It’s independent, commercial-free and member-led with feature interviews, breaking news, Richie Sadlier’s Player’s Chair, The Politics Podcast and lots of added extras.
Hey everyone, the broadcast date of our upcoming international pod series ‘Where Is George Gibney?’ has been delayed until Aug on @BBCSounds due to Covid 19. In the meantime, if you have any info you’d like to share, please contact us confidentially [email protected] pic.twitter.com/jh8UsyvdKd
— Second Captains (@SecondCaptains) June 1, 2020
Go to PatreonThe lads try to get to the bottom of the conundrum that is Jordan Henderson being festooned with individual awards while El Mago finishes his career in England with very few at all https://t.co/thkVl26DWi pic.twitter.com/hAuEqEMTwA
— Second Captains (@SecondCaptains) July 27, 2020