Aly Raisman is one of the Fierce Five who competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. The Fierce Five included Gabby Douglas, McKayla Maroney, Aly Raisman, Kyla Ross and Jordyn Wieber. They were the second American team to win gold in the Olympics and the first on international ground. In 2016, the USA Gymnastics scandal came to light, with Aly Raisman at the forefront of it. Raisman and hundreds of others came forward about the abuse they received at the hands of the USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar. This had nationwide effects. It came out that there was a systematic problem of sexual abuse in USA Gymnastics and that this was only the start of it.
When any sexual assault story comes to light there is always doubt. When the USA Gymnastics scandal came to light there was no doubt. I think a large part of this is because of the sheer number of athletes who came forward about Larry Nassar. The media was covering this story like I have never seen before. To have so many athletes come forward, especially athletes we have seen grow up in front of our very eyes, I think set a very specific tone of just how awful the entire situation was. Another big part of the media coverage for this scandal was based around the “Me Too” movement. So many women heard these stories and could, unfortunately, relate to them which also helped diffuse any doubt.
The media narrative and coverage enhanced the act of Raisman and others who stood up against USA Gymnastics and Larry Nassar. All of the gymnasts emotions came through in everything they did from the first time they spoke out to the victim statements they read at Nassar’s hearings. You could not help but listen to them and believe the horrible things that Nassar did to countless gymnasts.
Personally, I know that Raisman is a role model to myself. It is hard not to look up to someone like that who has been through so much but still wants to do good in the world. She is truly an incredible individual.