Larry Nassar, the disgraced former USA Gymnastics doctor, was reportedly stabbed multiple times while serving his prison sentence for sexually abusing young gymnasts. The incident occurred at the United States Penitentiary Coleman in Florida during an altercation with another inmate. According to sources who wished to remain anonymous due to the ongoing investigation, Nassar was stabbed in the back and chest but was in stable condition following the attack.
Nassar is currently serving decades-long sentences in both state and federal prisons for his crimes. He confessed to sexually assaulting athletes during his tenure at Michigan State University and USA Gymnastics, organizations that train Olympians. In addition to these charges, Nassar also pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography.
The case against Nassar has been marked by controversy and outrage, as many of his victims testified that they had reported his abuse to adults, including coaches and athletic trainers, over his more than two-decade-long reign of terror. However, their pleas for help went largely unreported. More than 100 women, including Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles, sought over $1 billion from the federal government for the FBI’s failure to act on allegations against Nassar when they first surfaced in 2015. Nassar was not arrested until 2016, over a year later.
In response to the scandal, Michigan State University, which was accused of missing opportunities to stop Nassar, agreed to pay $500 million to more than 300 women and girls he assaulted. Similarly, USA Gymnastics and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee settled for $380 million.
Nassar’s legal team attempted to appeal his conviction in 2022, arguing that he was treated unfairly during his 2018 trial due to the judge’s harsh remarks. However, the Michigan Supreme Court rejected this appeal, stating that despite concerns over the judge’s conduct, she adhered to the sentencing agreement established by the lawyers in the case.
The court proceedings culminated in an extraordinary seven-day hearing where over 150 victims either spoke or submitted statements. Rachael Denhollander, the first woman to publicly accuse Nassar, expressed relief at the conclusion of the trial, stating, “It’s over… Almost six years after I filed the police report, it’s finally over.”
This stabbing incident marks another chapter in the saga of Larry Nassar, whose crimes have left a lasting impact on the world of gymnastics and beyond.
