January 24 In History: Larry Nassar, US Gymnastics Team Doctor Sentenced To 60 Years In Prison For Sexual Harassment

Larry Nassar (Wikimedia Common)

JAKARTA - Today, January 24, three years ago, Larry Nassar was found guilty of sexual assault charges. Former Doctors at Michigan State and USA Gymnastics were sentenced to 40 to 175 years in prison. The issue that befell Nassar is also getting heavier because it is part of the emergence of the #MeToo movement. It is a local and international alternative movement to fight sexual harassment and sexual violence. This movement went viral in October 2017 through hashtags on social media.

Previously, as quoted by History, Nassar was found guilty of abusing his position as a sports doctor to harass hundreds of young girls. The scandal not only resulted in his life imprisonment, but also became criticism of government institutions that fail to detect and ignore the issue of sexual violence.

This case has a long tail after the President of the State of Michigan and the Board of Directors of USA Gymnastics resigned. In addition, this issue got bigger after Nassar's 260 victims dared to speak in public. Because of his courage, the victims received an award from the Arthur Ashe Courage Awards, an award given to each individual who has contributed to the development of sports in the United States.

Nassar's career in sports medicine was very bright from a young age. He worked as a coach for the US national gymnastics team in 1986. He has also had a distinguished academic career with a doctorate in osteopathic medicine from Michigan State University. After earning a degree in his doctoral studies, Nassar worked as at the same university and became the head of the US gym team's training center in Texas.

At the training center, Nassar sexually assaulted gymnast Maggie Nichols during a medical during a national team training camp in 2015. After the coach heard Nichols and other athletes discuss Nassar's examination, he reported the doctor to USA Gymnastics. USA Gymnastics contacted the Federal Bureau of Investigation but did not immediately take action against Nassar or notify his university.

That same year, it turned out that USA Gymnastics broke with Nassar. Even though the association seemed to have closed the case, the news about Nassar's crime was absurdly published by several media. In September 2016, the Indianapolis Star newspaper broke news that two other gymnasts accused him of sexual assault, which resulted in his dismissal from Michigan State. In November, Nassar was charged with repeatedly abusing an unidentified child, starting in 1998 when the child was six years old.

The accusations against Nassar grew even bigger after three athletes admitted to being victims of sexual harassment in an interview with CBN News called 60 Minutes in 2017. The event has a big meaning because it invites other victims to speak up. This issue became increasingly viral after each victim dared to speak out on social media using the hashtag #MeToo on Twitter.

The biggest wave of casualties recognized were some of the gymnastics who won gold for the US during the 2016 Rio Olympics. The athletes included McKayla Maroney, Aly Raisman and Simone Biles. The recent involvement of athletes in the mass media has increased the visibility of the Nassar case. In all, more than 260 women accused Nassar of abusing them, in many cases while they were still minors. The FBI raid found more than 37,000 images of child pornography in the possession of Nassar. He pleaded guilty to allegations of ownership of the content in July 2017.

The trial for Nassar's indictment also featured the testimonies of several of the new victims. He pleaded guilty to multiple counts in a Michigan state court, receiving from 40 to 175 years in prison. However, the final agreement stipulates that Nassar must serve 60 years in federal prison for possession of child pornography.