The sport of gymnastics is filled with heroic stories of Simone Biles, her strength, and grace. However, the sport also has a dark past, with cracks of abuse that have tainted this beautiful world. And one such tale is that of American former sports medicine physician Lawrence Gerard Nassar. It has been nearly 8 years since he was charged with his crimes and sentenced to 40 to 175 years in prison.
In 2021, Simone Biles, along with teammates Aly Raisman and McKayla Maroney, spoke up and testified against Nassar. And now, nearly three years after the heartbreaking yet empowering moment, Simone Biles opens up about this brave act.
Simone Biles reveals her emotions
In an interview with Vanity Fair, Simone Biles reflected on and expressed her emotions behind images captured at pivotal moments in her life in a segment called “Reframed”. These moments included her Biles II on vault, her civil courthouse wedding snapshot, and her withdrawal from the Tokyo Games, among others. However, one moment stood out when the images from September 15, 2021, capturing Simone Biles testifying against Larry Nassar before the Senate Judiciary Committee, were displayed.
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Speaking of her emotions during the moment, she described it as an important instance where she and her teammates became a “voice for the voiceless and for survivors.” She then shared how, although she had gone over several times before the moment, “but just officially saying it out loud to a courtroom, it was just kind of scarring, but it was the right thing”. This moment was a vital one in the life of Simone Biles, as this further elevated her as an advocate of mental health for the impact she had.
The powerful moment before the Senate Judiciary Committee
On September 15, 2021, Simone Biles broke down, sharing her story before the Senate Judiciary Committee with McKayla Maroney, Aly Raisman, and Maggie Nichols while testifying against Nassar and also the FBI’s handling of the investigation. Simone Biles made a powerful statement and said, “How much is a little girl worth?” I sit before you today to raise my voice so that no little girl must endure what I, the athletes at this table, and the countless others who needlessly suffered under Nassar’s guise of medical treatment continue to endure today.”
Later, FBI Director Christopher Wray, who assumed the agency’s top position in 2017, issued a profound apology to the women and pledged to ensure such a travesty would never happen again under his watch. Simone Biles and her fellow gymnastics icons used their voices to stand against injustice, and their impact resonates powerfully to this day.
