The USA Gymnastics National Team Training Center at the Karolyi Ranch in Huntsville, Texas, was a dangerous place for young athletes for far too long, a pair of recently filed lawsuits allege.
A former USA women’s gymnast filed a civil lawsuit in California Superior Court on Thursday in which she alleges ex-team doctor Larry Nassar repeatedly sexually assaulted her over years when she was a minor, according to ESPN’s John Barr. Futhermore, the suit alleges legendary coaches Bela and Marta Karolyi failed to protect her amid their own physical and emotional abuse of gymnasts at their ranch, which has served as the USA women’s gymnastics training hub since 2001. The gymnast also accuses USA Gymnastics officials of ignoring and concealing the abuse.
Defendants include Nasser, USA Gymnastics, its current and past presidents Steve Penny and Robert Colarossi, Bela and Marta Karolyi and the gymnast’s private coaches Galina Marinova and Artur Akopyan.
The accuser, now 24, represented the United States between 2004 and 2010 when she was aged 12 to 18. She claims the abuse caused her to suffer depression, eating disorders and panic attacks.
A 2000 Olympic medalist sued Nassar in September, also claiming he sexually assaulted her. The lawsuit filed Thursday makes similar accusations against him.
