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Saturday 25 November 2017 SPORTS
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Raisman embraces role as ‘Fierce’ advocate for abuse victims

By WILL GRAVES ed chronic mishandling of
AP Sports Writer abuse allegations against
The people come forward coaches and staff at some
to Aly Raisman almost daily of USA Gymnastics’ more
now. Random strangers. than 3,500 clubs across the
Men and women of vari- country.
ous ages, races and back- Raisman has not taken any
grounds. They see the six- legal action against Nas-
time Olympic medal-win- sar, though she’s not ruling
ning gymnast out in public it out. Her larger concern is
and approach with a hug educating young athletes
to give and a story to tell. and their parents on the
It was jarring at first, if Rais- warning signs while loudly
man is being honest. When clamoring for change. She
she pitched her autobiog- has seen a familiar pattern
raphy “Fierce” to publishers repeat itself over the last
last summer shortly after the 18 months: another gym-
2016 Olympics, she intend- nast comes out claiming
ed to focus on her journey abuse by Nassar, and USA
from tenacious prodigy to Gymnastics follows with a
champion. And while all of In this March 7, 2016, file photo, gymnast Aly Raisman poses for photos at the 2016 Team USA news release attributed to
that is in there, the part of Media Summit in Beverly Hills, Calif. no specific individual that
her experience that’s reso- Associated Press praises them for their cour-
nated the most since the ated Press. “What I realized OK. It’s never OK.” the team doctor for the U.S. age. One of the most dec-
book’s release earlier this at the end of the day is that The 23-year-old’s new call- women’s elite program, of- orated Olympic athletes
month is the one she wasn’t I want change and I want ing makes thinking about ten working with athletes of her generation doesn’t
sure she’d be able to share. people to understand what a return to competition in one on one. Raisman de- just want words. She wants
It’s Chapter 22, titled exactly abuse is. It’s very time for the 2020 Olympics clined to get into specifics action. USA Gymnastics
“The Survivors.” In it, Rais- complicated. It’s very con- seem trivial. about the abuse she was has taken several steps in
man outlines how she was fusing. I didn’t know that “This is the focus,” Raisman subjected to, but her expe- recent months. President
abused by former national I was being abused be- said. rience falls in line with what and CEO Steve Penny re-
team doctor Larry Nassar, cause I was manipulated A focus that has turned her many other have claimed signed under pressure in
how he “groomed” her so horribly.” into an unexpected symbol against Nassar: that he March and was replaced
by presenting himself as a In the process, Raisman dis- of strength for others who touched them inappropri- by Kerry Perry, who takes
friendly ear and how she covered the abuse Nassar share their experiences. ately while describing it as over on Dec. 1. The orga-
feels he was empowered committed against other “Unfortunately sexual proper treatment. nization hired Toby Stark,
to continue over the course female athletes — including abuse is far too common,” Nassar pleaded guilty to a child welfare advocate,
of years by those in charge allegations from Olympic Raisman said. “I’ve real- multiple charges of sexu- as its director of SafeSport
at USA Gymnastics. teammates McKayla Ma- ized how many people are al assault in Michigan on over the summer. Part of
Raisman spent weeks work- roney and Gabby Douglas affected by it and it’s dis- Wednesday and will face Stark’s mandate is educat-
ing on the section, revisiting — is a very small part of a gusting. That’s why I want at least 25 years in prison. ing members on rules, edu-
it again and again, trying much larger problem that change.” He still faces additional cational programs and re-
to get it just right. Or at least extends far beyond the ac- Raisman has become an in- criminal charges and has porting. The federation also
as close to right as she can tions of just one man. It’s creasingly outspoken critic been named in more than adopted over 70 recom-
get. why she took those painful of USA Gymnastics, blam- 125 civil lawsuits filed by mendations by Deborah
“I put in a ton of thought memories and put them ing the governing body for former athletes. Nassar’s Daniels, a former federal
whether how I wanted to on paper, to share with the a lack of oversight on Nas- downfall began following prosecutor who oversaw
come forward about this,” world that, as she says over sar’s conduct. The 54-year- reporting by the Indianapo- an extensive independent
Raisman told The Associ- and over again: “It’s not old spent nearly 20 years as lis Star in 2016 that highlight- review.q

High jumper Barshim and heptathlete Thiam win IAAF awards

MONTE CARLO, Monaco came the first high jumper on the world stage in 2017.
(AP) — High jumper Mutaz in history to leap 2.40 me- Athletics looks forward to a
Essa Barshim of Qatar and ters or higher in five succes- strong and exciting future
heptathlete Nafissatou Thi- sive years. safe in your hands.”
am of Belgium have been The 23-year-old Thiam The president’s award giv-
named the IAAF’s world opened the year by tak- en to eight-time Olympic
athletes of the year, while ing the European indoor gold Bolt, who retired after
retiring great Usain Bolt pentathlon title then she taking bronze in the 100
was given the president’s climbed to third on the meters at worlds, “recog-
award. heptathlon all-time list with nizes and honors great ser-
Barshim and Thiam also a performance of 7,013 vice to athletics.”
President of the International Association of Athletics Federa- each won world titles in points at a meeting in In other awards, 400-meter
tions (IAAF) Sebastian Coe, and Prince Albert II of Monaco, with London this year. Gotzis, Austria, in May. hurdler Karsten Warholm of
Belgium’s combined events specialist Nafissatou Thiam, second The 26-year-old Barshim IAAF president Sebastian Norway and triple jumper
right, who won the 2017 Athlete female of the Year Award, and completed an undefeated Coe says, “I’m particularly Yulimar Rojas of Venezu-
Qatari high jumper Mutaz Essa Barshim who won the 2017 Ath- season across 11 compe- excited by the young gen- ela were named the male
lete male of the Year Award, Friday, Nov.24, 2017, in Monaco, titions and won the Dia- eration of talent which so and female rising stars,
during the 2017 World Athletics Gala Awards.
Associated Press mond League title. He be- dramatically came of age respectively.q