Nassar Judge Slams Gymnastics: 'Still Failing Athletes' After 10 Years

Ten years after the exposure of Larry Nassar’s sexual abuse of over 250 women and girls, Judge Rosemarie Aquilina has condemned the sport for failing to deliver meaningful reform ^[1]. Speaking at an event in Rotterdam during the World Gymnastics Championships, Aquilina said the lack of progress is driven by 'money, medals and notoriety over the safety of children'. She described recent changes as 'window dressing' and warned that athletes still fear speaking out due to retaliation or exclusion ^[2].

Survivors and advocates from Gymnasts for Change International (G4CI) gathered to challenge the sport’s continued resistance to cultural overhaul. Claire Heafford, G4CI CEO and a survivor, said the scale of reform has not matched the scale of the revelations ^[1]. She cited 'institutional fear, blinkeredness, and rigid hierarchies' as barriers to change.

Minky Worden of Human Rights Watch noted that while reporting systems and whistleblower protections have improved, implementation remains weak across nations ^[1]. She warned that sports still mirror the 'exceptionalism' once seen in institutions like the Catholic Church, where abusers were moved between jurisdictions without accountability.

Eloise Jotischky, the first to win a civil case against British Gymnastics, praised new policies but stressed that 'implementation is everything' ^[1]. Kim Shore of Gymnasts for Change Canada said the sport still suffers from 'control dominance' coaching, body shaming, and training on injuries ^[2]. However, she noted a positive shift: more gymnasts are staying in the sport past their teens and returning after motherhood.

With Nicolas Buompane stepping down as World Gymnastics secretary general at the end of 2026, the upcoming leadership transition is seen as a pivotal moment ^[1]. Shore urged the new leadership to issue bold cultural reforms, even without legal power, to shift norms across national federations. The idea that World Gymnastics will adopt such reforms under the new secretary general has not been confirmed.

USA Gymnastics, Gymnastics Canada, British Gymnastics, and World Gymnastics have been contacted for comment but have not responded ^[1]. The story was first reported by The Guardian and The Independent.