Biography of Larry Nasser
  (1963–)

  Larry Nasser, a former athletic trainer and physician, has sexually abused hundreds of women and girls, many from the gymnastic world.

  Who is Larry Nasser?

  Larry Nasser is a former physician and athletic trainer who has been involved in sexual abuse and child pornography.  Hundreds of women and girls from Olympic gymnasts to the daughter of family friends have accused him of sexual abuse.  His crimes include abusing patients in the guise of medical treatments.  The victims volunteered to follow the Indianapolis star's 2016 report, which included accounts of two women who were attacked by Nasser.  Although previous investigations into Nasser's actions were abandoned, this time he was indicted and convicted.  More than 150 women and girls filed victim victim reports in court before he was sentenced in January 2018 following a conviction petition for multiple sexual assault charges.  The testimony, which lasted seven days, was seen as a milestone in the #MeToo movement.

  Early life and education

  Lawrence Gerrard Nasser was born on August 16, 1963, in Birmington Hills, Michigan.  He attended North Birmington High School in Michigan and graduated in 1981.  He graduated in Kinesiology from the University of Michigan and graduated in 1985.

  Nasser enrolled in Michigan State University's College of Osteopathy in 1988.  After failing twice in biochemistry, he persuaded the authorities to allow him to switch from a four-year to a five-year course, which allowed him to continue working with gymnasts.  He graduated from medical school in 1993.

  Career in Gymnastics

  Nasser began working with the gymnastics team in 1978 at his high school.  By 1986 he was a U.S. citizen.  Contacted the National Gymnastics Team.  She became the National Medical Coordinator of USA Gymnastics in 1996.  That same year he returned to Kerry Struck after recovering from an ankle injury sustained during the Olympics.  In August 1997, Nasser was named Assistant Professor at its College of Osteopathic Medicine at Michigan State University.

  Nasser often tried to engage himself with gymnasts.  It is said that he took the time to listen to what he had to say and that he could count on treating girls who did not have enough to eat during training.  Nasser was part of USA Gymnastics until 2015, when the organization released him following a report of abuse.  Although USA Gymnastics reported the allegations to the FBI, they did not object when Nasser publicly stated that he would retire voluntarily.  After leaving USA Gymnastics, Nasser continued to work at Twisters Gymnastics Club and Michigan State University.

  Victims

  Nasser told sick female gymnasts - injuries are common in sports - that she can calculate their aches and pains by calling them "penetrating adjustment".  While hip-site manipulation was a method of formal treatment, Nasser's approach - not using gloves, never obtaining informed consent and not even applying this treatment to knee and ankle injuries - violated accepted practice and served as a means of harassing patients.  He would rub his breasts and genitals and use his loving fingers to penetrate the patient's vagina or anus.

  Nasser accepted his explanation that many of the women and girls who had been abused did not receive proper medical treatment, so there was no question about his behavior.  He sometimes attacked patients with his parents or others nearby, making it difficult for some to believe that abuse had taken place.  .  During gymnastics events including clubs and the Olympics in Michigan.  Nasser is estimated to have abused a victim more than 800 times.

  Nasser's high status in the world of gymnastics made many gymnasts reluctant to speak.  Some feared that reprimanding Nasser might end their lives.  The corporate culture of USA gymnastics seemed to focus more on protecting the organization than protecting gymnasts.

  Nasser's abuse, however, was reported on several occasions, but ignored.  A gymnast shared his concerns with his trainer in 1997, but was encouraged not to make an official complaint.  In 2004, a police report was filed about Nasser, but he used materials he had developed to convince a doctor that he was providing medical care.  Nasser did not stop the Title IX trial at Michigan State University in 2014.  The FBI investigation, which began in 2015, dragged on for months, allowing Nasser to abuse 40 victims.  A Senate inquiry later said the FBI had "failed to pursue a course of action to protect victims from immediate harm."

  Former gymnast Rachel Denholander was the first woman to publicly identify herself as a victim of Nasser's abuse via the Indianapolis Star.  Soon others spoke to the police or the public about their experiences with Nasser.  Many Olympians, including Ali Riceman, Simon Piles, McClellan Maroni and KB Douglas, have admitted that they were abused by Nasser.

  In addition to the gymnasts, Nasser attacked other athletes who were being treated at Michigan State University.  He also abused women who came to him for help with regular aches and pains.  In 1998, he began harassing the 6-year-old daughter of family friends.  He said the abuse continued almost weekly until he was 12 years old.

  Whether the victims who first spoke about Nasser were ignored or dismissed, everyone had the opportunity to speak at the January 2018 sentencing hearing in Ingham County.  In seven days, 156 emotionally-charged victim-victim reports were shared.

  Michigan State University, where Nasser worked for many years, set up a $ 500 million fund for victims.  In the years since his crimes were made public, more than 500 people have accused Nasser of abusing them.

  Investigation and testing

  On November 22, 2017, Nasser pleaded guilty to seven counts of first-degree criminal sexual misconduct in Ingham County Circuit Court in Michigan.  Eaton County Circuit Court in Michigan later this month following a conviction of one in three counts of first-degree criminal sexual behavior.  In January 2018, he was sentenced to 40 to 175 years in prison in Ingham County Court.  Judge Rosemary Aquilina told him, "I'm a judge who believes in life and rehab when rehabilitation is possible. I do not see this as possible with you. I signed your death warrant."  Another sentence of 40 to 125 years was later handed down in Eden County.

  When investigating allegations of sexual harassment against Nasser in September 2016, police detained external hard drives found in his trash (which were only discovered because the trash was late that day).  They contained more than 37,000 images of child pornography, which led to federal accusations against Nasser.  In July 2017 he filed a criminal petition for three child pornography charges.  He was sentenced to sixty years in prison later this year for these crimes.  Nasser's federal prison sentence must be completed before time can be set aside for his other charges.

  

Wife and children

  On October 19, 1996, Nasser married fellow athlete Stephanie Lynn Anderson.  The couple had three children: a girl in 2001 and 2004, and a boy in 2006.

  One of Nasser's daughters is autistic.  She set up the Gymnastics Doctor Autism Foundation to support gymnastics programs for autistic children and other children with special needs.

  Nasser's wife divorced him after the history of the series' abuse became public.

  Podcasts and documentaries

  Nasser's case is described in the credible podcast, as well as in the documentary At the Heart of Gold and Athlete A.