Tasha Schwikert, a bronze medalist at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, has become the ninth American Olympian to publicly disclose that she was sexually abused by former USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar. In an interview with ABC News, Schwikert said Nassar abused her hundreds of times during her career.
The abuse began when she was training at the Karolyi ranch in Texas ahead of the 2000 Games. Schwikert, who also served as an alternate for the 2004 Athens Olympics, said she initially kept the abuse hidden, portraying a glamorous image of her gymnastics career.
In 2016, then-USA Gymnastics CEO Steve Penny contacted Schwikert and pressured her to issue a statement praising Nassar and the organisation. Schwikert, who was pregnant and studying for the bar exam, eventually complied, providing glowing remarks about USA Gymnastics but not Nassar. The statement was later posted on social media after other gymnasts spoke out about abuse on 60 Minutes.
Schwikert is now the ninth Olympian to accuse Nassar, joining teammates and other medalists from the 2012 and 2016 US teams. Her younger sister Jordan also revealed she was abused by Nassar. Over 300 women have accused Nassar of sexual misconduct, leading to his conviction and life sentence.
