1 00:00:27,361 --> 00:00:29,281 Throughout my elite gymnastics career, 2 00:00:29,363 --> 00:00:34,493 I always put so much pressure on myself to be the best that I can be. 3 00:00:37,371 --> 00:00:40,041 But I realize now, more than ever, 4 00:00:40,123 --> 00:00:45,053 it's even more important to speak up and make a difference in the world. 5 00:00:47,673 --> 00:00:50,053 I get letters from so many people 6 00:00:50,133 --> 00:00:53,433 that trust me enough to share their stories with me. 7 00:00:53,512 --> 00:00:54,682 [overlapping voices] Dear Aly... 8 00:00:54,763 --> 00:00:56,353 Dear Aly... 9 00:00:56,431 --> 00:00:57,811 [woman] Dear Aly, 10 00:00:57,891 --> 00:01:01,561 You defied all odds doing moves few gymnasts can even attempt. 11 00:01:01,645 --> 00:01:05,105 If you could do that, I knew I could defy the odds too. 12 00:01:05,190 --> 00:01:06,190 [woman 2] Because of you, 13 00:01:06,275 --> 00:01:09,435 I will never again stand by when someone else is in harm's way. 14 00:01:09,528 --> 00:01:12,318 In life, you need to keep fighting. 15 00:01:12,406 --> 00:01:15,116 You helped spark a movement that I'm proud to be a part of. 16 00:01:15,200 --> 00:01:17,700 I knew if you could find the strength to go on, 17 00:01:17,786 --> 00:01:18,866 that I could too. 18 00:01:21,915 --> 00:01:24,035 I'm still young. I'm still learning. 19 00:01:25,544 --> 00:01:27,844 But I realize now, more than ever, 20 00:01:28,422 --> 00:01:31,222 that we all have the power to create change 21 00:01:31,842 --> 00:01:34,012 just by sharing our stories. 22 00:01:34,094 --> 00:01:35,104 Dear Aly... 23 00:01:35,179 --> 00:01:36,219 [woman 3] Dear Aly... 24 00:01:36,305 --> 00:01:37,465 [man 2] Dear Aly... 25 00:01:37,556 --> 00:01:39,136 [voices continue] 26 00:02:00,787 --> 00:02:02,407 [Aly] When I was a little girl, 27 00:02:02,497 --> 00:02:06,247 I watched the 1996 Olympic women's gymnastics team 28 00:02:06,335 --> 00:02:07,835 win the team gold medal. 29 00:02:09,378 --> 00:02:11,628 [male announcer] What a beautiful moment for American sports. 30 00:02:11,715 --> 00:02:14,755 Gold on home turf in Atlanta. 31 00:02:15,385 --> 00:02:18,175 I was so, so inspired by them, 32 00:02:18,263 --> 00:02:21,233 and I knew that I wanted to be just like them. 33 00:02:23,477 --> 00:02:26,607 I started gymnastics when I was two years old, 34 00:02:27,022 --> 00:02:28,942 taking classes with my mom. 35 00:02:30,150 --> 00:02:32,400 I fell in love with it right from the start. 36 00:02:33,403 --> 00:02:35,113 When I was at the gym, 37 00:02:35,197 --> 00:02:37,867 it just felt so comfortable and safe for me to be there. 38 00:02:37,950 --> 00:02:39,280 [crowd cheers] 39 00:02:42,454 --> 00:02:43,794 -[woman] Nice! Stick it! -[girl] Whoo! 40 00:02:43,872 --> 00:02:47,582 [Aly] My coach said I have to lead by example 41 00:02:47,668 --> 00:02:50,208 and to look out for people, to be there for your teammates, 42 00:02:50,295 --> 00:02:53,125 and that, you know, in order to win a competition 43 00:02:53,215 --> 00:02:55,215 you have to be a team from start to finish. 44 00:02:55,634 --> 00:02:59,104 I had absolutely no idea how hard it would be to get to the Olympics. 45 00:02:59,179 --> 00:03:01,469 But I think that's one of the best things about being a kid, 46 00:03:01,557 --> 00:03:03,427 is that there is no dream that's too big. 47 00:03:13,819 --> 00:03:19,069 It's very hard to describe how incredible it is to make the Olympic team. 48 00:03:19,408 --> 00:03:21,948 It's the biggest competition of your life. 49 00:03:23,078 --> 00:03:24,078 [female announcer] Aly Raisman, here, 50 00:03:24,162 --> 00:03:27,252 who has really become the leader for this team. 51 00:03:27,666 --> 00:03:30,626 [Aly] On top of that, I was voted to be team captain. 52 00:03:30,711 --> 00:03:32,631 It was really an honor to be the captain. 53 00:03:34,214 --> 00:03:35,634 [male announcer] Just one pass. 54 00:03:35,716 --> 00:03:37,176 Just one pass. 55 00:03:37,593 --> 00:03:39,343 Hit it and you're in. 56 00:03:39,636 --> 00:03:41,806 Watch Aly Raisman's face, 57 00:03:41,889 --> 00:03:44,179 right as she sticks it. 58 00:03:46,351 --> 00:03:48,401 And she knows it. Right there. She knows it. 59 00:03:50,939 --> 00:03:55,109 [female announcer] Look at that shot. They have been a team from start to finish. 60 00:03:57,154 --> 00:03:58,824 [male announcer] Get the gold medals ready. 61 00:03:58,906 --> 00:04:00,696 -[screams] -[audience cheers] 62 00:04:04,953 --> 00:04:08,123 [Aly] When we won the team gold at the 2012 Olympics, 63 00:04:08,207 --> 00:04:10,787 I was really emotional. I was crying. 64 00:04:10,876 --> 00:04:14,956 And I was very proud of the fact that I was able to lead my team. 65 00:04:15,047 --> 00:04:18,297 And they were also incredible teammates to me too. 66 00:04:18,591 --> 00:04:23,391 It's an amazing experience when all of your dreams are coming true 67 00:04:23,472 --> 00:04:25,892 and all of your hard work has paid off. 68 00:04:33,607 --> 00:04:35,147 After the London Olympics, 69 00:04:35,234 --> 00:04:39,704 I had this obsession to compete in the 2016 Olympics. 70 00:04:40,030 --> 00:04:43,580 It is very rare to come back for a second Olympics, 71 00:04:43,659 --> 00:04:46,039 but I was very determined to get there. 72 00:04:46,119 --> 00:04:48,329 [male reporter] What about making a comeback, is it tough? 73 00:04:48,413 --> 00:04:50,293 I still feel like I have more to give in this sport. 74 00:04:50,374 --> 00:04:51,794 It's kind of like a gut feeling. 75 00:04:51,875 --> 00:04:54,995 So, regardless of what happens, I know that I'll do the best that I can. 76 00:05:01,844 --> 00:05:03,684 [male announcer] Aly Raisman of Team USA 77 00:05:03,762 --> 00:05:05,682 is trying to make it back to the Olympic Games. 78 00:05:05,764 --> 00:05:08,984 It's one of the most daunting things a gymnast can try and do. 79 00:05:10,894 --> 00:05:13,364 [Aly] The World Championships are extremely crucial 80 00:05:13,438 --> 00:05:16,318 to be able to compete at the Olympic Games. 81 00:05:17,192 --> 00:05:22,162 At the 2015 World Championships, I just did not feel like myself at all. 82 00:05:24,950 --> 00:05:27,410 I felt really insecure, 83 00:05:27,494 --> 00:05:29,664 and I just kept doubting myself. 84 00:05:34,751 --> 00:05:36,131 [crowd groans] 85 00:05:39,840 --> 00:05:42,180 I was so upset and so mad at myself 86 00:05:42,259 --> 00:05:44,339 and only focusing on what I was doing wrong. 87 00:05:46,471 --> 00:05:48,221 [male commentator] Yeah, she was just devastated. 88 00:05:48,891 --> 00:05:50,561 After day one, she said, 89 00:05:50,642 --> 00:05:53,652 "I feel like I just want to go die in a hole. 90 00:05:54,104 --> 00:05:57,234 I feel like I let my team and my coaches down." 91 00:05:59,943 --> 00:06:02,703 Called it the worst meet of her entire life. 92 00:06:06,783 --> 00:06:09,293 [Aly] This had never happened before. 93 00:06:10,913 --> 00:06:12,753 It just was too much for me. 94 00:06:20,881 --> 00:06:23,551 After the 2015 World Championships, 95 00:06:24,259 --> 00:06:27,969 I came back home and had a little bit of time before the next training camp 96 00:06:28,055 --> 00:06:29,305 to self-reflect 97 00:06:29,389 --> 00:06:32,769 and realize that I was putting so much pressure on myself 98 00:06:32,851 --> 00:06:34,981 that it totally backfired. 99 00:06:36,188 --> 00:06:41,188 I felt like I forgot why I loved gymnastics in the first place. 100 00:06:42,027 --> 00:06:43,277 Don't lose the right hand. 101 00:06:43,362 --> 00:06:46,412 You're losing the right hand and you're turning the right hand backwards. 102 00:06:46,823 --> 00:06:49,373 It took me really, really struggling 103 00:06:49,451 --> 00:06:54,501 and really having one of the worst competitions of my life 104 00:06:54,581 --> 00:06:57,791 to realize there is such thing as working too hard 105 00:06:57,876 --> 00:07:01,546 and pushing yourself too much and wanting it too much. 106 00:07:01,630 --> 00:07:05,340 And so I decided to just compete for myself 107 00:07:05,425 --> 00:07:09,675 and not push myself to the point where it's not fun anymore. 108 00:07:11,890 --> 00:07:15,940 And it really helped me be the best that I could possibly be 109 00:07:16,019 --> 00:07:17,599 at the 2016 Olympics. 110 00:07:17,688 --> 00:07:18,978 [crowd cheering] 111 00:07:21,692 --> 00:07:23,942 [man] USA! USA! 112 00:07:25,320 --> 00:07:29,240 [male commentator] She said, "On this comeback, I've worked so hard. 113 00:07:30,450 --> 00:07:34,160 Harder than if I had had no success." 114 00:07:34,621 --> 00:07:36,291 [woman on PA] On floor exercise... 115 00:07:45,174 --> 00:07:47,184 [male announcer] This has been her destiny. 116 00:07:47,259 --> 00:07:50,429 - [crowd cheering] -[male commentator] Gold for Team USA. 117 00:07:51,430 --> 00:07:53,390 I worked really hard to get to that moment. 118 00:07:53,473 --> 00:07:57,483 And I realized that the harder days are what's gonna make you stronger. 119 00:07:57,561 --> 00:08:00,311 And it made me feel absolutely amazing, 120 00:08:00,772 --> 00:08:05,492 especially knowing that you are impacting generations to come. 121 00:08:10,782 --> 00:08:14,412 Dear Aly, I started gymnastics when I was six years old. 122 00:08:14,786 --> 00:08:18,116 By the time I was 11, I was training 25 hours a week 123 00:08:18,207 --> 00:08:19,577 and loved every second of it. 124 00:08:19,666 --> 00:08:21,536 [cheering, applause] 125 00:08:22,628 --> 00:08:25,338 I couldn't wait for the next meet and chance to perform. 126 00:08:26,256 --> 00:08:28,676 But sometimes life has other plans for you. 127 00:08:29,301 --> 00:08:30,511 Mine certainly did. 128 00:08:30,928 --> 00:08:35,058 When I was 12, I was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia 129 00:08:35,140 --> 00:08:38,640 and immediately started chemotherapy to prepare for a bone marrow transplant. 130 00:08:42,022 --> 00:08:46,072 But the day before my transplant, my situation became much worse. 131 00:08:46,944 --> 00:08:49,574 My left leg had become dangerously infected. 132 00:08:51,281 --> 00:08:55,541 The doctor told me and my family that they had no choice but to amputate. 133 00:08:56,203 --> 00:08:58,623 I couldn't imagine a life with just one leg. 134 00:08:59,164 --> 00:09:02,794 But my doctor told me it was either my leg or my life. 135 00:09:03,252 --> 00:09:04,502 I was devastated, 136 00:09:05,170 --> 00:09:06,960 but I knew I didn't have a choice. 137 00:09:11,718 --> 00:09:13,798 The recovery was so difficult. 138 00:09:13,887 --> 00:09:17,017 After the amputation, I felt a little lost. 139 00:09:17,099 --> 00:09:19,559 But a call from my coach changed everything. 140 00:09:20,018 --> 00:09:23,358 She said, "I've never taught a one-legged gymnast before, 141 00:09:23,438 --> 00:09:25,318 but I'm willing to try if you are." 142 00:09:34,992 --> 00:09:38,082 Returning to the gym with a prosthetic leg was challenging. 143 00:09:38,161 --> 00:09:40,081 My leg didn't work the way it used to. 144 00:09:40,163 --> 00:09:42,373 And there were so many days where I would try a skill 145 00:09:42,457 --> 00:09:44,587 only to land in a heap on the floor. 146 00:09:45,169 --> 00:09:46,379 [exhales] 147 00:09:47,254 --> 00:09:49,514 Gymnastics used to come so naturally to me. 148 00:09:49,590 --> 00:09:51,680 And now, I was having to break movements down 149 00:09:51,758 --> 00:09:54,138 to their most basic elements just to try them. 150 00:09:55,095 --> 00:09:57,715 I was tested in ways I could never have imagined 151 00:09:58,223 --> 00:10:00,643 and had to fight through a lot of frustration. 152 00:10:00,976 --> 00:10:04,056 All this happened right as the Summer Olympics were starting. 153 00:10:04,146 --> 00:10:07,186 I watched with my family as you did incredible things, 154 00:10:07,274 --> 00:10:09,944 reminding me how strong we are as gymnasts. 155 00:10:10,319 --> 00:10:13,859 Aly, you defied all the odds as you threw yourself in the air 156 00:10:13,947 --> 00:10:17,827 doing passes that only a few people in the world could even attempt. 157 00:10:18,160 --> 00:10:21,960 If you could do that, I knew that I could defy the odds too. 158 00:10:25,459 --> 00:10:28,999 You motivated me and renewed my excitement about gymnastics. 159 00:10:29,379 --> 00:10:31,219 I was in the gym almost every day, 160 00:10:31,298 --> 00:10:33,928 figuring out the mechanics of my new leg with my teammates, 161 00:10:34,551 --> 00:10:36,261 seeing what worked and what didn't. 162 00:10:37,346 --> 00:10:41,306 Falling a lot, but getting back up over and over. 163 00:10:41,391 --> 00:10:42,981 I started competing again 164 00:10:43,060 --> 00:10:46,730 and learned to love the challenge of discovering new ways to do skills. 165 00:10:47,314 --> 00:10:49,944 [male reporter] No need for a handicap category for Kate. 166 00:10:50,025 --> 00:10:53,395 She's happy to be judged the same as the two-legged gymnasts 167 00:10:53,487 --> 00:10:55,817 at the Illinois State Championship meet. 168 00:10:55,906 --> 00:10:57,026 [woman] Come on, Kate! 169 00:10:57,115 --> 00:10:58,735 [male reporter] The gym goes quiet. 170 00:10:58,825 --> 00:11:02,825 Kate swings up to the high bar and lands a flip like a pro. 171 00:11:02,913 --> 00:11:04,083 -Nice job! -[applause] 172 00:11:09,545 --> 00:11:12,965 It turns out I could do gymnastics with just one leg after all. 173 00:11:13,382 --> 00:11:17,182 Aly, because of you, I'm back in the gym still doing the thing I love, 174 00:11:17,845 --> 00:11:20,345 the thing I refuse to give up on. 175 00:11:24,059 --> 00:11:26,099 [crowd cheering] 176 00:11:26,645 --> 00:11:31,065 [male announcer] And the USA romping away with team gold. 177 00:11:32,234 --> 00:11:34,284 [woman on PA] Alexandra Raisman! 178 00:11:34,987 --> 00:11:36,987 When I was little, watching the Olympics, 179 00:11:37,072 --> 00:11:40,832 I thought these Olympic athletes are these perfect people 180 00:11:40,909 --> 00:11:43,949 and nothing ever goes wrong with their perfect lives, 181 00:11:44,037 --> 00:11:45,957 but that's not the world that we live in. 182 00:11:46,582 --> 00:11:50,252 Shocking allegations tonight against the former head physician 183 00:11:50,335 --> 00:11:52,745 of the US Women's Olympic Gymnastics Team, 184 00:11:52,838 --> 00:11:56,008 accused of sexually assaulting young girls in his care. 185 00:11:56,383 --> 00:11:59,803 Nassar came in with a sunny personality, 186 00:11:59,887 --> 00:12:03,887 and he used that trust to disguise sexual assault as medical treatment. 187 00:12:08,353 --> 00:12:12,613 [Aly] I reported my abuse before the 2016 Olympic Games. 188 00:12:13,400 --> 00:12:16,490 USA Gymnastics told us that the FBI would handle it, 189 00:12:16,570 --> 00:12:18,570 but nothing happened. 190 00:12:18,655 --> 00:12:21,025 I felt like they were sweeping things under the rug. 191 00:12:21,408 --> 00:12:23,738 We kept reaching back out, saying, "What's going on?" 192 00:12:23,827 --> 00:12:26,287 And they didn't explain anything to any of us. 193 00:12:26,371 --> 00:12:28,751 We were all told to keep this quiet. 194 00:12:29,708 --> 00:12:31,878 I just don't think people understand how hard it is 195 00:12:31,960 --> 00:12:35,630 to go through a traumatic experience, to be abused, 196 00:12:35,714 --> 00:12:37,054 and to report your abuse 197 00:12:37,633 --> 00:12:39,723 and then they do nothing. 198 00:12:41,845 --> 00:12:44,515 [male news anchor] We begin tonight with a major development. 199 00:12:44,598 --> 00:12:49,598 Fifty-three-year-old Dr. Larry Nassar was hit with 22 criminal charges, 200 00:12:49,686 --> 00:12:52,856 accused of sexually assaulting nine girls. 201 00:12:52,940 --> 00:12:55,070 And he has many more accusers. 202 00:12:55,150 --> 00:12:57,780 [female reporter] Nassar pleaded guilty to multiple state charges 203 00:12:57,861 --> 00:12:59,491 of child sexual abuse. 204 00:12:59,571 --> 00:13:00,781 As part of that agreement, 205 00:13:00,864 --> 00:13:04,414 the Michigan court invited all of his accusers, nearly 150 women... 206 00:13:04,493 --> 00:13:05,703 I was ashamed. 207 00:13:05,786 --> 00:13:07,246 ...to speak at his sentencing. 208 00:13:08,288 --> 00:13:10,828 [Aly] I was terrified to come forward. 209 00:13:11,375 --> 00:13:15,585 Sexual abuse is very hard to process on your own, 210 00:13:15,671 --> 00:13:18,801 let alone when everyone knows about it. 211 00:13:19,591 --> 00:13:24,431 So I just was not ready to share my story publicly with everyone. 212 00:13:30,811 --> 00:13:31,941 [female bailiff] All rise. 213 00:13:32,521 --> 00:13:33,941 [camera shutters clicking] 214 00:13:36,441 --> 00:13:38,281 He betrayed my trust, 215 00:13:38,360 --> 00:13:39,700 took advantage of my youth 216 00:13:39,778 --> 00:13:43,488 and sexually abused me hundreds of times. 217 00:13:44,491 --> 00:13:48,201 Sexual abuse is so much more than a disturbing physical act. 218 00:13:49,663 --> 00:13:51,963 It changes the trajectory of a victim's life. 219 00:13:52,040 --> 00:13:55,170 [Aly] Watching the many other young women speak, 220 00:13:55,252 --> 00:13:57,502 I realized I was not alone. 221 00:13:57,588 --> 00:14:00,878 Just to have that support and connection 222 00:14:00,966 --> 00:14:03,216 and a willingness to make a difference together 223 00:14:03,302 --> 00:14:06,642 was very inspiring and very empowering at the same time. 224 00:14:06,722 --> 00:14:10,142 Aly Raisman will be the next, um, survivor you hear from. 225 00:14:10,225 --> 00:14:12,305 I realized that I wanted to be there. 226 00:14:12,936 --> 00:14:15,686 - Good morning. Thank you for being here. - Good morning. Thank you. 227 00:14:16,857 --> 00:14:19,277 Larry, you do realize now that we, 228 00:14:19,359 --> 00:14:24,109 this group of women you so heartlessly abused over such a long period of time, 229 00:14:24,198 --> 00:14:26,528 are now a force and you are nothing. 230 00:14:28,327 --> 00:14:30,077 The tables have turned, Larry. 231 00:14:30,162 --> 00:14:34,372 We are here, we have our voices, and we are not going anywhere. 232 00:14:36,919 --> 00:14:38,629 You were trusted by so many 233 00:14:38,712 --> 00:14:42,172 and took advantage of countless athletes and their families. 234 00:14:43,008 --> 00:14:45,588 Over those 30 years, when survivors came forward, 235 00:14:45,677 --> 00:14:47,847 adult after adult-- 236 00:14:47,930 --> 00:14:50,810 many in positions of authority-- protected you. 237 00:14:51,808 --> 00:14:54,848 In fact, many adults had you convince the survivors 238 00:14:54,937 --> 00:14:57,307 that they were being dramatic or had been mistaken. 239 00:14:57,397 --> 00:15:00,067 This is like being violated all over again. 240 00:15:03,195 --> 00:15:06,565 1997 was the first report of abuse. 241 00:15:06,990 --> 00:15:11,450 The ripple effect of that one person who ignored that report 242 00:15:12,204 --> 00:15:16,464 affected hundreds and hundreds of people over 20 years. 243 00:15:17,709 --> 00:15:21,379 Larry, you should've been locked up a long, long time ago. 244 00:15:22,130 --> 00:15:24,380 But I am here to tell you that I will not rest 245 00:15:24,466 --> 00:15:29,216 until every last trace of your influence on this sport has been destroyed 246 00:15:29,304 --> 00:15:30,894 like the cancer it is. 247 00:15:30,973 --> 00:15:33,063 After I finished speaking, 248 00:15:33,141 --> 00:15:36,771 I could barely eat or I could barely sit up 'cause I was just so exhausted. 249 00:15:36,854 --> 00:15:38,154 It took everything out of me. 250 00:15:39,356 --> 00:15:42,226 But I also felt very empowered. 251 00:15:42,776 --> 00:15:44,526 Thank you. Thank you so much. 252 00:15:44,611 --> 00:15:45,951 -Thank you. -[applause] 253 00:15:47,865 --> 00:15:49,825 At the time, it didn't occur to me 254 00:15:49,908 --> 00:15:53,908 that by sharing my story and being honest about what I was going through 255 00:15:53,996 --> 00:15:56,246 that I could be helping other people. 256 00:16:00,627 --> 00:16:05,877 Dear Aly, I started teaching gymnastics classes at a nearby gym when I was 18. 257 00:16:06,592 --> 00:16:08,142 I loved my students to death. 258 00:16:08,760 --> 00:16:10,100 They were like my little sisters. 259 00:16:11,388 --> 00:16:14,558 We'd watch videos of you and the rest of the team. 260 00:16:14,641 --> 00:16:16,521 You were our favorite. 261 00:16:16,602 --> 00:16:18,602 [cheers, applause] 262 00:16:19,146 --> 00:16:21,976 So when we learned about the Nassar case, 263 00:16:22,065 --> 00:16:23,435 we were heartbroken. 264 00:16:24,318 --> 00:16:26,318 Then our own nightmare happened. 265 00:16:27,529 --> 00:16:31,239 One day I walked into the gym and saw someone had ransacked our space. 266 00:16:32,284 --> 00:16:34,494 I called 911, only to find out 267 00:16:34,578 --> 00:16:37,368 that the owner of the gym had been arrested on child pornography charges. 268 00:16:37,456 --> 00:16:39,746 [male reporter] A once-trusted gymnastics coach 269 00:16:39,833 --> 00:16:42,343 charged with child pornography possession 270 00:16:42,419 --> 00:16:45,129 following the discovery of two hidden cameras 271 00:16:45,214 --> 00:16:47,384 in his Wind Lake Gymnastics Center. 272 00:16:47,466 --> 00:16:49,336 I felt sick to my stomach. 273 00:16:49,885 --> 00:16:53,255 Gymnastics had always made us feel safe and strong. 274 00:16:53,597 --> 00:16:57,767 And I feared that my girls would stop doing the sport that we all love so much. 275 00:16:59,102 --> 00:17:00,482 It was hard enough for me. 276 00:17:00,938 --> 00:17:02,648 I can't imagine being ten years old 277 00:17:02,731 --> 00:17:05,191 and finding out that your coach was secretly taping you. 278 00:17:05,651 --> 00:17:07,151 These were my girls. 279 00:17:07,444 --> 00:17:09,954 I loved them, and I felt like I was letting them down. 280 00:17:12,115 --> 00:17:15,235 After that gym closed, my girls found a new gymnasium. 281 00:17:15,702 --> 00:17:17,702 But we were still having trouble moving on. 282 00:17:18,121 --> 00:17:20,291 I thought of everything that you had been through 283 00:17:20,374 --> 00:17:22,844 and the strength that you carried moving forward. 284 00:17:22,917 --> 00:17:24,457 So I decided to write to you. 285 00:17:24,837 --> 00:17:26,457 Amazingly, you responded. 286 00:17:26,547 --> 00:17:29,837 You made me feel heard and understood. 287 00:17:30,175 --> 00:17:33,005 You told me that our abuse does not define us. 288 00:17:33,637 --> 00:17:36,557 We destroyed all of our gear from our old gym. 289 00:17:37,224 --> 00:17:40,104 We've come out of this experience stronger together. 290 00:17:40,185 --> 00:17:41,475 Because of you, 291 00:17:41,562 --> 00:17:44,522 I confronted the man that took so much from us. 292 00:17:45,023 --> 00:17:47,233 He was sentenced to 17 years in prison 293 00:17:47,317 --> 00:17:49,237 and 30 years of extended supervision. 294 00:17:50,320 --> 00:17:53,410 Your story reaffirms that we are not alone. 295 00:17:54,449 --> 00:17:55,779 We are not victims. 296 00:17:56,201 --> 00:17:57,951 We are survivors. 297 00:18:01,748 --> 00:18:03,418 [Aly] Unfortunately we live in a world 298 00:18:03,500 --> 00:18:07,460 where abuse is a lot more common than people like to believe. 299 00:18:07,963 --> 00:18:11,633 Ninety percent of the time it is somebody that you trust. 300 00:18:12,176 --> 00:18:14,336 I realize now more than ever 301 00:18:14,428 --> 00:18:17,718 how many people can relate to what I've been through. 302 00:18:22,102 --> 00:18:23,482 - Hi. How are you? - [woman] Good. How are you? 303 00:18:23,562 --> 00:18:25,402 Good. Thank you. Who do you want me to make it out to? 304 00:18:25,480 --> 00:18:27,360 - [woman] My sister Paige. - How do you spell that? 305 00:18:27,441 --> 00:18:30,571 I just want to say thank you so much for coming out about your story. 306 00:18:30,652 --> 00:18:32,822 It's encouraged me to come out about mine. 307 00:18:32,905 --> 00:18:34,235 -Oh, thank you. -I really appreciate it. 308 00:18:34,323 --> 00:18:36,203 I'm sorry to hear about that. How are you doing? 309 00:18:36,283 --> 00:18:40,253 I'm doing fine. I mean, after coming out about it, I've become more okay with it. 310 00:18:40,329 --> 00:18:44,369 [Aly] So many people want to share their stories with me of being a survivor. 311 00:18:44,458 --> 00:18:47,588 So I take that responsibility very seriously. 312 00:18:47,669 --> 00:18:49,549 [woman 2] I wanted to thank you for having a voice. 313 00:18:50,255 --> 00:18:52,625 I have not been able to have a voice, so thank you. 314 00:18:52,716 --> 00:18:54,926 - Everyone comes forward when-- - Gotta do it on your own time. 315 00:18:55,010 --> 00:18:56,600 Yes, of course. So don't rush it. 316 00:18:56,678 --> 00:19:00,388 Do whatever feels right for you and just focus on taking care of yourself. 317 00:19:00,474 --> 00:19:01,984 And speaking with so many fans, 318 00:19:02,059 --> 00:19:04,479 I've realized a lot of people don't feel heard. 319 00:19:04,561 --> 00:19:06,151 A lot of people don't feel like-- 320 00:19:06,230 --> 00:19:08,860 When they share their voice and they share their story, 321 00:19:09,525 --> 00:19:11,855 they are not listened to, and that's unacceptable. 322 00:19:11,944 --> 00:19:13,824 And so when I speak publicly, 323 00:19:13,904 --> 00:19:18,164 I'm not just speaking on behalf of myself or the gymnastics community, 324 00:19:18,242 --> 00:19:22,202 but I'm also speaking on behalf of so many women and men 325 00:19:22,287 --> 00:19:25,707 that are not believed, that are not listened to, 326 00:19:25,791 --> 00:19:27,881 and so many people that are afraid to come forward. 327 00:19:28,627 --> 00:19:30,837 [woman] Aly isn't just an Olympic athlete. 328 00:19:30,921 --> 00:19:34,971 What she has done is what gymnasts are normally told not to. 329 00:19:35,384 --> 00:19:38,104 She has spoken out, and she has challenged authority. 330 00:19:38,178 --> 00:19:40,308 [applause] 331 00:19:42,057 --> 00:19:44,887 [Aly] Abuse is a huge societal problem, 332 00:19:44,977 --> 00:19:50,567 and that's because our society so often sticks up for abusers over survivors. 333 00:19:50,649 --> 00:19:53,149 And so often, people don't want to get involved. 334 00:19:53,485 --> 00:19:54,565 That's unacceptable, 335 00:19:54,653 --> 00:19:58,163 and that also enables abusers to continue to get away with their abuse. 336 00:19:58,657 --> 00:20:03,657 USA Gymnastics still treats me and my teammates like we're adversaries 337 00:20:03,745 --> 00:20:07,495 when we're saying that we were abused while we were training. 338 00:20:07,583 --> 00:20:11,093 I couldn't sit back and watch the organizations 339 00:20:11,170 --> 00:20:14,550 continue to sweep it under the rug and act like nothing was happening. 340 00:20:16,091 --> 00:20:17,091 It gives me anxiety 341 00:20:17,176 --> 00:20:20,256 how many people out there do not do the right thing. 342 00:20:20,345 --> 00:20:22,755 So I can't sit back and do nothing. 343 00:20:22,848 --> 00:20:26,808 Now is such an important time for everyone to speak up. 344 00:20:26,894 --> 00:20:32,824 The statistics of people that are actually sexually abused before the age of 18 345 00:20:32,900 --> 00:20:35,820 is one in four girls and one in six boys. 346 00:20:37,529 --> 00:20:39,529 My goal-- and this is a very big goal-- 347 00:20:39,615 --> 00:20:44,905 is to get everyone to understand the warning signs to stop a predator. 348 00:20:44,995 --> 00:20:47,075 So I partner with Darkness to Light, 349 00:20:47,164 --> 00:20:49,504 and that is a program to educate all adults 350 00:20:49,583 --> 00:20:51,293 to prevent child sexual abuse. 351 00:20:52,211 --> 00:20:55,131 I'm very determined to get as many people educated, 352 00:20:55,214 --> 00:20:57,014 and it's not going to happen overnight. 353 00:20:57,466 --> 00:20:59,716 We have a lot of work to do. 354 00:20:59,801 --> 00:21:03,601 But things are changing, and we're all a part of that change. 355 00:21:09,728 --> 00:21:13,108 Dear Aly, I'm a neurologist in training from Ontario. 356 00:21:13,524 --> 00:21:17,194 When you started competing professionally, I was just starting medical school. 357 00:21:17,277 --> 00:21:19,357 I admired the grit you showed in your gymnastics. 358 00:21:21,031 --> 00:21:23,081 I felt like I related to you personally 359 00:21:23,158 --> 00:21:25,828 because you also need a lot of grit in medical training. 360 00:21:27,704 --> 00:21:30,214 Last year, when I was on pediatric rotation, 361 00:21:30,707 --> 00:21:32,377 I received a call about a little girl 362 00:21:32,459 --> 00:21:34,669 whose hip had been dislocated for six months. 363 00:21:35,963 --> 00:21:37,633 Her hip bone was poking out of her skin 364 00:21:37,714 --> 00:21:39,974 and her muscles were spastic due to a prior injury. 365 00:21:42,261 --> 00:21:46,141 The physician was begging the parents to give consent to treat the hip injury, 366 00:21:46,223 --> 00:21:48,353 but sadly, they refused. 367 00:21:48,433 --> 00:21:51,483 So the doctor asked me for help in controlling her pain. 368 00:21:52,896 --> 00:21:55,476 The little girl was also severely underweight. 369 00:21:55,732 --> 00:21:58,992 Looking at her in so much pain actually made me feel nauseous. 370 00:22:00,612 --> 00:22:03,742 To me, this was an obvious case of child abuse. 371 00:22:04,241 --> 00:22:06,581 The doctors all knew something was wrong, 372 00:22:06,660 --> 00:22:09,580 but each doctor pointed to another doctor to do something. 373 00:22:10,163 --> 00:22:13,463 Sadly, I was no exception to this. 374 00:22:19,715 --> 00:22:21,585 But no matter what I was doing, 375 00:22:21,675 --> 00:22:23,925 all my thoughts were focused on that little girl. 376 00:22:24,595 --> 00:22:27,305 It was then that I remembered my favorite gymnastics podcast 377 00:22:27,389 --> 00:22:29,519 mentioning your partnership with Darkness to Light, 378 00:22:29,600 --> 00:22:31,850 an amazing non-profit committed to training adults 379 00:22:31,935 --> 00:22:34,185 to identify and prevent situations of abuse. 380 00:22:35,856 --> 00:22:38,816 That evening, I took your Darkness to Light training online, 381 00:22:39,193 --> 00:22:42,403 and I ended up calling Child Protective Services that same night. 382 00:22:42,487 --> 00:22:45,197 It's just like you during the Larry Nassar case. 383 00:22:45,282 --> 00:22:48,912 In life, you need to keep fighting till the right people listen. 384 00:22:51,663 --> 00:22:52,793 Because I spoke up, 385 00:22:52,873 --> 00:22:56,383 Child Protective Services got involved with the parents that next day. 386 00:22:56,835 --> 00:22:59,915 And I recently found out that the young girl is doing much better. 387 00:23:00,756 --> 00:23:04,216 Aly, you have renewed my faith in the merit of fighting for what's right 388 00:23:04,301 --> 00:23:07,391 and that people with good intentions can make good change. 389 00:23:07,888 --> 00:23:11,138 You have made me remember that there's ultimately a right thing to do. 390 00:23:14,353 --> 00:23:18,483 [Aly] There is a whole army of survivors that will be fighting for change 391 00:23:19,191 --> 00:23:21,441 until we can get to a point where people realize 392 00:23:21,527 --> 00:23:24,487 that abuse is never ever okay. 393 00:23:26,323 --> 00:23:31,043 We are so grateful that the ESPYs gave us another platform to share our story 394 00:23:31,119 --> 00:23:33,959 and hopefully give other survivors the courage to share theirs too. 395 00:23:35,082 --> 00:23:38,002 Whether you act or do nothing, 396 00:23:38,085 --> 00:23:42,085 you are shaping the world that we live in, impacting others. 397 00:23:43,090 --> 00:23:49,560 If just one adult had listened, believed and acted, 398 00:23:50,097 --> 00:23:54,017 the people standing before you on this stage 399 00:23:54,101 --> 00:23:56,651 would have never met him. 400 00:23:58,772 --> 00:24:00,982 To all the survivors out there, 401 00:24:01,900 --> 00:24:03,570 we may suffer alone 402 00:24:03,986 --> 00:24:06,856 but we survive together. 403 00:24:06,947 --> 00:24:07,947 Thank you. 404 00:24:08,031 --> 00:24:10,701 [cheers, applause] 405 00:24:12,661 --> 00:24:14,331 Everyone is a survivor of something. 406 00:24:14,413 --> 00:24:18,383 The more that we can all encourage people to share their stories, 407 00:24:18,625 --> 00:24:20,955 we will change things and make things better. 408 00:24:21,044 --> 00:24:24,594 Thank you, Aly, for showing me that nothing is impossible. 409 00:24:25,048 --> 00:24:27,628 You gave me the validation I needed to move forward 410 00:24:27,718 --> 00:24:29,888 and the strength to support my girls. 411 00:24:29,970 --> 00:24:32,720 We all have different passions in life. 412 00:24:32,806 --> 00:24:35,726 And so, if every single one of us 413 00:24:35,809 --> 00:24:38,439 focused on something that we want to see change, 414 00:24:39,062 --> 00:24:41,732 the ripple effects of that could change the world. 415 00:24:43,317 --> 00:24:46,487 Thank you for showing me that my voice can make a difference. Caroline. 416 00:24:47,279 --> 00:24:48,989 Sincerely, Kate. 417 00:24:49,489 --> 00:24:51,369 Sincerely, Sammie.