Well Played

Let's Discuss

Nassar Judge Has a New Warning for Gymnastics 

What's going on: Nearly a decade after former USA Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar's arrest, Judge Rosemarie Aquilina, who sentenced him to up to 175 years in prison, says the sport still fails to protect athletes from abuse “in almost every way.” She issued the warning last week at an advocacy event held alongside the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in the Netherlands. To refresh your memory, more than 150 people, mostly young women and girls, came forward in 2018 to detail Nassar’s abuse under the guise of medical treatment. In 2021, an investigation found that the FBI had received complaints about Nassar years earlier but failed to act appropriately. Aquilina dismissed some of the sport’s subsequent reforms as “window dressing,” saying athletes still fear that reporting abuse could cost them their careers. “I don't think we're going to see a change in my lifetime,” she said. “I think it's going to take decades.”

The rules vs. reality: Gymnastics can't undo what happened to Nassar's victims. But it can do more to protect current and future athletes. Changes have been made, at least on paper. USA Gymnastics has improved reporting rules, introduced an Athlete Bill of Rights, and given gymnasts more say in leadership. Still, gaps remain. A Washington Post and ProPublica investigation found eight coaches suspended or banned by other organizations, including three gymnastics coaches who faced allegations of physical and emotional abuse, continued to work with children through affiliations with the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU), a youth athletics organization largely outside the US Center for SafeSport's oversight. The center investigates abuse allegations in Olympic and Paralympic sports, but most of its restrictions don't extend to independent organizations like the AAU. That means a coach barred from one program might still work with children elsewhere. It's a glaring gap in a system designed to protect young athletes, and one that raises questions about how much reform can accomplish when protections become blurry at organizational boundaries.

Despite the above: US Women Overcome Last-Minute Roster Shake-up to Reach World Gymnastics Team Final (NBC Sports) 

Pick Six

🏎️ F1 driver Kimi Antonelli stopped by Spurs practice ahead of the US Grand Prix and found himself face-to-chest with Victor Wembanyama. Someone book Kimi a neck massage.

🎀 Trinity Rodman and Natalia Bryant reunited on the Victoria's Secret runway, but we're more interested in their childhood soccer days on the same team. Trinity scored five goals while Natalia collected bird feathers. We need the team photos.

🖤 Olympic stars Alysa Liu and Lindsey Vonn brought their black-tie best to the Academy Museum Gala. For two winter sports athletes, they know how to turn up the heat.

💘 Jennifer Lopez and Ted Lasso star Brett Goldstein are rumored to be keeping things casual. We choose to believe. 

⚽ Soccer couple Kristie Mewis and Sam Kerr shared their idea of a “wild Monday night.” We're here for the sock curls and the very relatable end-of-night realization.

💰 Chelsea Handler says she never cared much about being the only woman in the room. Now she's putting her money into women's sports. Her advice? Focus less on the men and more on each other.

Skimmed by Mallory Simon and Jordan Galloway. Fact-checked by Jordan Mamone.