“Your decision to assault was calculated, precise, devious, despicable,” Aquilina said. “You played on everyone’s vulnerability. I’m not vulnerable.=

That’s all very nice. Now let’s turn our eyes to the people who aided and abetted him all of these years. MSU, we turn our lonely eyes to you.

Contrast Sandgren’s statement with the victim statements coming out of the Nassar hearings. Women who were actually, legally victimized sound resilient and admirable; this dolt sounds petulant and triggered. So you had to face some “tough” questions, oh boo-hoo.

He tried to whine his way out of it because it was so upsetting for him, and the judge was like, nope. Sit down, shut up, and listen to every word that’s said, motherfucker.

Mattie Larson I fucking love you!!!

I completely agree. I think the judge saw the gross miscarriage of justice happening with MSU and USAG and used her unique powers to give a survivors a platform to enable change. She is the advocate these girls needed but never got.

This judge deserves her own gold medal for opening the floodgates here. I think these statements en masse have been what prompted Simone to speak up and therefore the closing of the ranch, and then the listing of John Geddert’s, and the resignations of the USAG board members. I hope the tide continues to roll in, and…

Dude, no kidding. These statements just keep getting more and more heartbreaking. When Mattie started to break down as she talked about injuring herself to get out of going to the ranch, I just lost it.

Thanks for sharing. Gymnastics needs more coaches like Miss Val who can treat her athletes like human beings and still win.

Thank you so much for all the coverage about the USAGA and MSU sexual predator story. It is so much bigger than even Sandusky/Penn State, and no one is even talking about it much, except for you. This should be plastered all over the media.

The victim statements were never supposed to last this long, but more and more people keep coming forward, wanting to speak. It’s an incredible thing.

Thank you so much, Lauren and Deadspin, for reporting on this every day.

Jesus, day 6??? How many WERE there?

If you pull your pants down in public, you waive the right to be insulted by observations.

Miss Val (the UCLA Gymnastics coach who didn’t grow up in the sport but ended up being the head coach after joining the team as a choreographer and is, if stories are to be believed about as diametrically opposite to the ‘scream at everyone’ school of thought as can be) has a blistering piece up on her blog in which…

These gymnasts are really impressive in giving their statements. Very clear, straightforward, and emotionally strong while also showing the deep hurt they all feel. As much as I’ve lost respect for the institution, I’ve gained a ton of respect for these women.

These women are tough as fuck. I cannot imagine the mental anguish that they have had to endure.

Every testimony I’ve heard has been gut-wrenching, but this one really got to me. These poor women and girls. If there’s anywhere worse than hell, may it be his eternal resting place, after a long and painful existence henceforth.

“I can’t even put into words”
uh...actually you can...and you did...and they were powerful. 

So proud of these women.