Gold medal-winning Olympic gymnast McKayla Maroney says she was molested by Larry Nassar

'It started when I was 13 years old'

DETROIT – Olympic gold medal-winning U.S. gymnast McKayla Maroney says she was molested by former USA gymnastics and Michigan State University doctor Larry Nassar.

Maroney posted a statement to Twitter, where the 21-year-old alleges Nassar molested her for many years. “People should know that this is not just happening in Hollywood,” she wrote

“It started when I was 13 years old, and it didn’t end until I left the sport,” Maroney continued. “I had a dream to go to the Olympics, and the things that I had to endure to get there were unnecessary and disgusting.”

The former Michigan State University and USA Gymnastics physician was arrested last year on the child pornography charges including:

  • Receipt and attempted receipt of child pornography
  • Possession of child pornography
  • Destruction and concealment of records and tangible objects

Nassar agreed to plead guilty to all of those charges. As part of the plea agreement he will not be prosecuted for sexual exploitation and attempted sexual exploitation of children, as well as interstate or international travel with intent and engaging in illicit sexual conduct. Those charges were related to an incident which is alleged to have occurred in Nassar's swimming pool with two children in the summer of 2015. 

More on the Nassar case here.


About the Authors:

Ken Haddad has proudly been with WDIV/ClickOnDetroit since 2013. He also authors the Morning Report Newsletter and various other newsletters, and helps lead the WDIV Insider team. He's a big sports fan and is constantly sipping Lions Kool-Aid.