Latest news with #LarryNassar
Fox News
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Larry Nassar victims' lead attorney criticizes USA Gymnastics trans athlete policy handling
The Larry Nassar sexual abuse scandal became a sudden talking point amid the backlash against Simone Biles for defending trans athletes in women's sports. Some critics, including Biles' target in her social media rant Riley Gaines, pointed to the abuse perpetrated by Nassar while criticizing Biles' stance on trans athletes. Then on Wednesday, a USA Gymnastics spokesperson told Fox News Digital that the organization's transgender eligibility policy and resources pages were deleted from its website in May, to "assess compliance with the current legal landscape." The lead attorney for the U.S. women's gymnasts who were affected by Nassar, John Manly, weighed in on the comparisons between the Nassar abuse and biological male inclusion in women's sports. "Larry Nassar was sexually assaulting children, that's fundamentally different," Manly told Fox News Digital. However, Manly believes that the leadership at USA Gymnastics and its method of deciding to allow trans athletes in the women's category is the same type of leadership method that allowed the Nassar scandal to occur. "I think that's precisely right," Manly said. "[Female gymnasts] are in that position with that trans athlete in the locker room because of the organizations that create policies. … In that same token, Larry Nassar was created and allowed to flourish because they didn't have policies preventing precisely what he was doing. He was treating little girls in their hotels rooms alone on their beds, during the Olympics, there's no policy against it." Manly added, "Athletes are not first in this sytem, they're not. Money and medals are, and the people who run it are first." President Donald Trump signed his "Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports" executive order in February, but the order only applies to institutions that receive federal funding, while USA Gymnastics and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) are private entities. As a lawyer, Manly questioned the validity of the organization's recent excuse of "compliance with the current legal landscape" for deleting the policy pages. "That's a bunch of nonsense," Manly said. "That's corporate speak for 'we're concerned that the political winds have shifted and people are taking a dim view of the policy' and they don't want to become Bud Light. "The reason Larry Nassar happened, one, is because they didn't put athletes first, and two, because they slithered around and tried to cover it up, and [it's] the same thing here. Make a decision, stand out and defend it." Still, unlike Nassar, Manly believes that blame does not always fall on the trans athletes themselves, especially those who are underage. Manly, who has known Biles for several years, believes the gymnast was trying to make a similar point in her recent controversial social media rant, but it was "misunderstood." "I think it's a misunderstanding. I think what I suspect what Simone was trying to say is 'we shouldn't blame children, child athletes, for competing when these organizations allow it. But I haven't spoken to her about it… I respect Riley Gaines and obviously I respect and love Simone, and I wish it hadn't happen, but I can't speak to that," Manly said. In December 2021, Manly helped Biles and fellow U.S. women's gymnasts Aly Raisman, McKayla Maroney and Maggie Nichol secure a $380 million settlement from USA Gymnastics and USOPC over the Nassar abuse. Since then, the attorney has followed the issue's impact on the legal landscape, with an eye on Gaines' lawsuit against the NCAA for the inclusion of biological male Lia "Will" Thomas in the 2022 NCAA women's swimming championship. "I think it's really important," Manly said of Gaines' lawsuit's impact on women's sports history. "How that plays out is going to determine whether women's sports is going to continue as we know it or if it's going to change… the fact that the NCAA hasn't just owned up to it and come to a settlement with her is shocking to me." Manly says he would consider filing his own lawsuit against the USOPC if any American Olympians came to him with a legitimate case. "I'd file them to protect women, to protect female athletes, but I shouldn't have to file those cases, what should happen is the USOPC should step in and say 'were going to protect our athletes and we're going to have clarity," he said. While Manly hopes that the policies will be clear and allow fair competition in time for the Los Angeles Olympics, he says he has "no confidence," the policies will be at that point in summer 2028 if the current USOPC leadership remains in power. "I don't have any hope for anything with this board," he said. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Medscape
11-06-2025
- Health
- Medscape
Autonomy in Practice: Trauma-Informed Pelvic Exams
'I just can't do it.' My patient, a 43-year-old woman with a history of childhood sexual abuse and young adult assault, sat across from me, her shoulders hunched. She'd avoided pelvic exams for years, despite her desire for cervical cancer screening. Even scheduling an appointment triggered panic and dissociation. Years of therapy — including eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) — had helped, but not enough. Previous providers, even those she trusted, had 'gotten the job done' while ignoring her pleas to slow down or stop. Sadly, her experience is all too common. Why Trauma-Informed Exams Matter To many clinicians, pelvic exams are routine. But for patients with a history of trauma — sexual, medical, or both — pelvic exams can feel terrifying and impossible. Even well-intentioned can fall short if they move too quickly or miss subtle cues. Traditional models prioritize efficiency and focus on 'getting it done,' often at the expense of patient comfort and agency. And let's be honest: The legacy of medicine has not always inspired trust. For female patients, the impact of historic injustices like nonconsensual gynecologic procedures on enslaved women or the abuses of Dr Larry Nassar continue to reverberate — especially among marginalized communities. For many, mistrust of medical settings is not just personal, but generational. What the Literature Offers (and What It Doesn't) General guidance on trauma-informed care is plentiful but rarely offers concrete, actionable, step-by-step guidance on treating patients who have severe trauma responses with pelvic exams. Talli Rosenbaum's mindfulness-based pelvic floor physical therapy stands out as a specific protocol for working with clients with sexual pain. As a sexual medicine specialist, I also wanted to develop a process rooted in patient autonomy, explicit consent, and nonexploitation — skills that benefit patients in medical settings as well as in their sexual relationships. I designed my approach to: Equip patients with self-advocacy tools. Teach patients their rights, such as requesting an exam under anesthesia or their right to stop a medical procedure at any time. Coach patients on how to use clear, assertive language to communicate their needs effectively to medical providers. Teach patients their rights, such as requesting an exam under anesthesia or their right to stop a medical procedure at any time. Coach patients on how to use clear, assertive language to communicate their needs effectively to medical providers. Honor the body's wisdom. I've explored a variety of trauma-informed approaches, including Somatic Experiencing, Eugene Gendlin's Focusing, and Gina Ogden's 4-D Wheel, and these modalities sharpened my ability to notice subtle bodily signals. By recognizing these signals, providers can help their patients listen to the quiet voice of their body's discomfort before it escalates and needs to 'shout.' I've explored a variety of trauma-informed approaches, including Somatic Experiencing, Eugene Gendlin's Focusing, and Gina Ogden's 4-D Wheel, and these modalities sharpened my ability to notice subtle bodily signals. By recognizing these signals, providers can help their patients listen to the quiet voice of their body's discomfort before it escalates and needs to 'shout.' Make space for internal conflicts. Internal Family Systems language helps patients acknowledge the parts of themselves that seek healing alongside those that deeply fear vulnerability. My Protocol: Principles and Process Three core principles shape my patient encounters: No exam unless necessary for the patient's goals or questions. Proceed only if the exam aligns with your collaborative care plan and if the patient explicitly consents. The patient is in control of every step of the exam. Encourage self-advocacy and support and validate any request to slow down or pause the process at any point. No enduring is allowed. Although we cannot guarantee that a patient won't experience moments of discomfort, we can shift, adjust, or stop if anything feels mentally, emotionally, or physically uncomfortable. We do not want any patient 'white-knuckling it' through the exam. Share these core principles with your patient before any exam. Then, describe the exam in detail and ask the patient if there are any components they'd like to adjust or exclude. Stepwise, Patient-Led Approach Assessment and window of tolerance. Start in a talking office — not the exam room — to establish the patient's 'window of tolerance,' which is the range in which patients can engage without shutting down or becoming overwhelmed. Ask the patient, 'How will I know you're uncomfortable?' and 'How does your body let you know when it's not okay?' During medical exams, individuals with a history of trauma can unknowingly push through their body's early warning system. To avoid escalation, together we identify early signs of discomfort (eg, elevated heart rate, shallow breathing, muscle tension, mental haze) and plan on grounding techniques (eg, breathing exercises, humming, orienting) we can implement if or when they arise. Gradual exposure. Proceed step by step. First describe the exam, then have the patient imagine the exam, then enter the exam room, and continue to advance in that fashion. Each session progresses only as far as the patient's window of tolerance allows. Cultivating interoception. Treat early warnings as vital information. If a patient notices and reports a sensation of discomfort, welcome it as an important indicator that something in the environment needs to shift. If a patient gets the 'shakes' after accomplishing a difficult step, reframe this reaction as a sign of resilience, as the body has completed a stress cycle. Celebrate every act of self-advocacy and rehearse how to communicate needs to future providers, reinforcing the notion that the patient is the expert on their lived experience. Environmental adjustments. Encourage patients to bring a support person, a warm blanket, music, or even a stuffed animal. Simple changes like covering anatomical diagrams or putting fun socks on the footrests can make a substantial difference. What Success Looks Like After 15 sessions, a 39-year-old with lifelong medical anxiety who experienced panic during her first pelvic exam at 21 years of age went from viewing her anxiety as insurmountable to tolerating a full pelvic exam with the support of her partner. Thanks to this trauma-informed approach, we were able to complete the pelvic exam and identify a manageable muscular issue. Another patient, who'd experienced a psychogenic seizure during her first pelvic exam, completed a Pap smear by the seventh session. We discovered that her initial psychogenic seizure was probably due to a typical vasovagal response. As a result of our sessions, she now uses grounding tools with new providers — proudly advocating for herself in both medical and personal settings. At the end of our sessions, my female patients often tearfully ask, 'Why isn't it always this way?' Barriers and Realities Let's not sugarcoat it: The doctor-patient power imbalance is real and demands our constant vigilance. Furthermore, systemic barriers such as limited time, inadequate space, and liability-driven policies often make trauma-informed approaches challenging to implement in routine care. Although not every provider may be able to fully adopt a practice like this, we can all work to move the field toward more patient-led, trauma-informed care. Ultimately, the goal is a future where trauma-informed exams are the norm, not the exception. Takeaway for Clinicians Clinicians should screen for past traumas of all types and recognize that routine medical care is inherently vulnerable and boundary crossing; as such, trauma responses will inevitably arise. We all need to be prepared with tools and attitudes that can help our patients move through them. So, the next time you perform a pelvic exam: Slow down. Center consent and bodily autonomy. Listen to bodily cues, not just spoken words. Equip yourself with tools to help patients when trauma responses are activated. Empower patients to lead the process. Evaluate the necessity of your planned exams and always explain their rationale. Collaborate with the patient to create an environment for exams that feels empowering and safe. Let's move away from 'getting it done' and start 'getting it right.'
Daily Mail
10-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Simone Biles slammed for 'playing the woke card' and 'destroying her brand' in embarrassing trans feud U-turn
Simone Biles has been criticized for 'playing the woke card' and 'destroying her brand' after she apologized for making her trans feud with Riley Gaines personal. After Gaines, a former swimmer turned conservative commentator for OutKick, criticized a Minnesota softball team with a trans pitcher last Friday, Biles called her 'truly sick' before getting personal and telling her to 'bully someone your own size, which would ironically be male'. Gaines, for her part, later referenced the horrific sexual abuse that Biles and other gymnasts suffered at the hands of pedophile doctor Larry Nassar. On Tuesday, though, Biles U-turned on her initial remarks, as she apologized for her insult toward Gaines and acknowledged that they were discussing 'sensitive, complicated issues.' And while her apology was accepted by Gaines, a pair of conservative commentators slammed Biles for changing her stance. 'Simone Biles's bending the knee is such a win for sanity,' said former Fox and NBC anchor Megyn Kelly on X. 'She misread the room. The nat'l sentiment. Gaines has consistently campaigned against trans athletes competing in women's sports 'She tried to play the woke card on @Riley_Gaines_ & neither Riley nor the nation (all of us on X) were having it. She chose more nastiness. And then she was forced to cry 'uncle.' OutKick founder Clay Travis added: 'After getting smoked for multiple days, Simone Biles posts a jumbled mess of a PR statement. Embarrassing. She has destroyed her brand with two tweets.' Earlier in the day, the OIympic gymnast broke her four-day silence by writing on X: 'I wanted to follow up from my last tweets. I've always believed competitive equity & inclusivity are both essential in sport. 'The current system doesn't adequately balance these important principles, which often leads to frustration and heated exchanges, and it didn't help for me to get personal with Riley, which I apologize for.' Gaines replied on the platform: 'I accept Simone's apology for the personal attacks including the ones where she body-shamed me. I know she knows what this feels like. She's still the greatest female gymnast of all time. A couple of things. Sports ARE inclusive by nature. Anyone can and everyone SHOULD play…' In a lengthy apology, Biles also admitted she didn't have the answers on how to include trans athletes in sports in a way that satisfies everyone. 'These are sensitive, complicated issues that I truly don't have the answers or solutions to, but I believe it starts with empathy and respect,' Biles said. 'I was not advocating for policies that compromise fairness in women's sports. My objection is to be singling out children for public scrutiny in ways that feel personal and harmful. 'Individual athletes - especially kids - should never be the focus of criticism of a flawed system they have no control over. 'I believe sports organizations have a responsibility to come up with rules supporting inclusion while maintaining fair competition. We all want a future for sport that is fair, inclusive, and respectful.' Biles also shared her apology on Instagram, captioning an image of her statement with three silver hearts. Her husband Jonathan Owens, an NFL player for the Chicago Bears, also shared the statement on his own Instagram. The 28-year-old Biles, a seven-time Olympic gold medal winner, was widely criticized for her initial comments, which also saw her taunt Gaines as a 'sore loser.' The former college swimmer competed against trans swimmer Lia Thomas at the 2022 National Championships, with the pair tying for fifth at the 200 Freestyle finals/ And Biles said last week to Gaines: 'You're truly sick, all of this campaigning because you lost a race. Straight up sore loser. 'You should be uplifting the trans community and perhaps finding a way to make sports inclusive OR creating a new avenue where trans feel safe in sports. 'Maybe a transgender category IN ALL sports!! But instead… You bully them… One things for sure is no one in sports is safe with you around!!!!!' Gaines, whose campaigning has won praise from Donald Trump and saw her welcomed to the White House in February, initially attracted the scorn of Biles when she criticized a Minnesota high school with a trans athlete. Champlin Park recently won a state title with a dominant trans pitcher in Marissa Rothenberger. And Gaines retweeted a picture of a team celebration on X, writing: 'Comments off lol. To be expected when your star player is a boy.' Before accepting the apology from Biles, Gaines had also criticized the Olympian by unearthing a tweet from 2017. In the post, the US Olympian said: 'ahhhh good thing guys don't compete against girls or he'd take all the gold medals !!' Gaines reposed it and wrote: 'Oop don't you hate it when your past self completely undermines your current nonsensical argument? How has 2025 Simone reconciled with the fact 2017 Simone was a 'truly sick bully' by her own standard?'
Daily Mail
10-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Stephen A. Smith wades into Simone Biles' trans feud with Riley Gaines... and reveals why swimmer went too far
Stephen A. Smith has waded into Simone Biles' trans feud with Riley Gaines - saying the former college swimmer went 'too far' in her spat with the Olympian before admitting that Gaines has 'the right to feel' the way she does. Biles and Gaines, who has staunchly advocated against transgender women competing in women's sports, began arguing after Gaines retweeted a picture of Minnesota team Champlin Park celebrating the state high school title that they won with transgender pitcher Marissa Rothenberger on the team. Gaines wrote that the championship was 'to be expected when your star player is a boy,' before Biles responded by calling her 'truly sick' and even comparing her appearance to a man's. Gaines later responded by referencing the horrific sexual abuse Biles and other gymnasts suffered at the hands of pedophile doctor Larry Nassar. 'All the horrific sexual abuse @Simmone_Biles witnessed and spoke out against caused by one man, yet believes women should be forced to strip naked in front of men to validate the man's feelings,' Gaines wrote. 'You know how many gold medals you'd have if your 'inclusive' dream came true? Zero.' That remark in particular earned a strong rebuke from Smith, who addressed the topic on his 'Stephen A. Smith Show' on Monday. 'That's going a bit too far. Talking about transgender women competing in sports is one issue. Using a guy like Larry Nassar, one of the most despicable human beings we've ever witnessed on this earth... to go that low - Gaines, you lost all credibility. Smith continued by calling her remarks 'cruel' - before admitting that her broader position 'should give us all cause to pause. 'The reality is that it is a disservice to women in a lot of people's eyes, that men transitioning to women get to compete in women's sports,' Smith said, before referencing the dominance of Gaines' ex-college rival Lia Thomas. 'What Riley Gaines is talking about does seem a bit unfair, she has a right to express those thoughts without Simone Biles coming at her that way,' Smith said. He also added that there are 'an abundance of women who have a right to feel the way to feel how Riley Gaines feels.' The popular sports commentator, who said that the debate was about competition in sports rather allowing people to 'live and let live,' later posited than their should be a separate division for trans women to compete in. Gaines' campaigning has won praise from Donald Trump , who welcomed her to the White House before signing the 'Keeping Men out of Women's Sports' executive order in February. Gaines shakes Donald Trump's hand on the day he signed an executive order on trans athletes However, Biles branded her a 'sore loser' on Friday night as she referenced her tying with Thomas for fifth place at the 200 Freestyle finals at the 2022 National Championships. 'You should be uplifting the trans community and perhaps finding a way to make sports inclusive OR creating a new avenue where trans feel safe in sports. Maybe a transgender category IN ALL sports!!,' Biles said after Gaines' initial post about Rothenberger. 'But instead… You bully them… One things for sure is no one in sports is safe with you around!!!!!' She then tweeted at Gaines again, saying: 'Bully someone your own size, which would ironically be a male.' Gaines replied: 'This is actually so disappointing. It's not my job or the job of any woman to figure out how to include men in our spaces. You can uplift men stealing championships in women's sports with YOUR platform. Men don't belong in women's sports and I say that with my full chest.' She continued: 'My take is the least controversial take on the planet. Simone Biles being a male-apologist at the expense of young girls' dreams? Didn't have that on my bingo card. Maybe she could compete in pommel horse and rings in 2028.' Gaines then addressed Biles mocking her appearance, saying: 'And the subtle hint at 'body-shaming' ???? Plzzzz I'm 5'5'.' After referencing Nassar's sexual abuse, Gaines actually doubled down on those remarks, sharing a clip of Biles testifying before Senate about the abuse suffered at the hands of the former team doctor. Alongside it, she posted a screengrab of Biles' initial post criticizing her. 'Simone Biles when she had to endure a predatory man Vs Simone Biles when other girls have to endure predatory men,' she wrote. Nassar was a leading doctor at Michigan State and with USA Gymnastics, but used his position within those organizations to sexually abuse young women under the guise of treatment at the now-closed Karolyi Ranch National Team Training Center in Huntsville, Texas.
National Post
09-06-2025
- Sport
- National Post
Online feud between Simone Biles and Riley Gaines takes turn with gymnast's 2017 post resurfacing
Article content 'bully someone your own size, which would ironically be a male,' she added later. Article content Gaines responded to Biles' comments, calling them 'disappointing' and standing behind her opinion. Article content 'This is actually so disappointing. It's not my job or the job of any woman to figure out how to include men in our spaces,' she wrote. Article content 'You can uplift men stealing championships in women's sports with YOUR platform. Article content 'Men don't belong in women's sports and I say that with my full chest.' Article content But that's when Gaines seriously turned up the heat, bringing up Biles' battle against disgraced U.S. gymnastics doctor and prolific sex criminal Larry Nassar. Article content 'All the horrific sexual abuse @Simone_Biles witnessed and spoke out against caused by one man, yet (she) believes women should be forced to strip naked in front of men to validate the man's feelings,' Gaines wrote. Article content All the horrific sexual abuse @Simone_Biles witnessed and spoke out against caused by one man, yet believes women should be forced to strip naked in front of men to validate the man's feelings. You know how many gold medals you'd have if your "inclusive" dream came true? Zero. — Riley Gaines (@Riley_Gaines_) June 7, 2025 Article content Article content 'You know how many gold medals you'd have if your 'inclusive' dream came true? Zero.' Article content Biles was involved in taking down Nassar, who is serving up to 175 years in prison for molesting her and hundreds of other female gymnasts. Article content
