Aly Raisman: Media Attention From Abuse Is 'Traumatizing'

NEEDHAM, MA — It's been a whirlwind for Aly Raisman since she stepped forward to reveal the abuse she suffered at the hands of disgraced former USA Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar. After giving her powerful victim impact statement at Nassar's sentencing in November, she has become one of the leading voices in the #MeToo movement and an advocate for reform in the nation's top gymnastics organization. But that work comes with a price.

The Needham native and Olympic gold medalist told the Improper Bostonian than the media attention that has come with her work is exhausting and traumatizing.

"I’m constantly reliving my abuse, and the last couple of months were extra-draining. I first spoke up back in August and I came forward with my story in November. I was so sick and so nervous. I don’t know if people understand how hard it is to do that," Raisman said.

Raisman said she's barely worked out in the past few months, but she trying to focus on taking care of herself.

Raisman first revealed the abuse during an interview on CBS' 60 Minutes last November. It had profound affect on the gymnastics world. In January, she was among the more than 250 women who gave victim impact statements prior to Nassar's sentencing for three counts of engaging in sexual misconduct with a person under the age of 16. She has since said that she wants to help USA Gymnastics create change but implied that they're not willing to work with her.

Here are some other tidbits from the interview:

• What would she do differently? She'd wish she realized that she was being abused when she was younger.
• Would she let her child compete at the Olympics or as an elite athlete? Only if USA Gymnastics and the U.S. Olympic Committee are willing to work with the victims to make changes. So far they've been silent, according to Raisman.
• Sick of "Hava Nagila?" Not yet because it's a great song.
• How does she want to be remembered? For standing up for the right thing.

Click here for the whole interview.

Image Credit: File Photo