Former Team USA Gymnasts Reveal Culture of 'Verbal and Emotional Abuse'

Former members of USA Gymnastics said the toxic culture created by longtime coaches Bela and Martha Karolyi led to "verbal and emotional abuse" of athletes and created an environment where disgraced team doctor Larry Nassar could "thrive."

On Saturday, Mitch Weiss and Holbrook Mohr of the Associated Press provided details from an investigation that included interviews with 13 former gymnasts and three coaches.

"He was their little puppet," Jeanette Antolin, who was part of the U.S. national team, said of Nassar. "He let us train on injuries. They got what they wanted. He got what he wanted."

Jennifer Sey, another former member of the U.S. squad, said the abuse became so commonplace that it reached a "point that it's become invisible."

"There needs to be a cultural change," Sey told the AP, adding there must be "zero tolerance for abuse of any variety—not just sexual abuse. But I don't think USA Gymnastics has the moral courage to reset the sport."

Mattie Larson, who made a victim-impact statement against Nassar in court during a sentencing hearing for sexual abuse of women and girls, added: "It's sad for me to say this, but if gymnastics can't find a way to keep athletes healthy and happy, they need to shut it down."

The Karolyis didn't comment for the AP story, but an attorney for the couple, whose coaching role with the program ended with Martha's retirement in 2016, denied the abuse allegations.

Nassar was sentenced to 60 years in federal prison on child pornography charges in December, 40 to 175 years for seven counts of criminal sexual conduct in January and 40 to 125 years for three additional counts of criminal sexual conduct in February.

USA Gymnastics announced widespread leadership changes last month in the wake of the scandal.