Simone Biles continues to put public pressure on USA Gymnastics to accelerate its reform process in the wake of the Larry Nassar sexual abuse scandal. Biles this morning appeared via satellite on the “Today” show, with NBC’s Savannah Guthrie noting the Gold Medal-winning gymnast earlier this month "took aim at USA Gymnastics, blasting the organization." USA Gymnastics President & CEO Li Li Leung subsequently promised more athlete agency, but Biles today responded, “You can always talk the talk, but you have to show up and you have to prove, and you just have to do your job at the end of the day. It would almost be better if you just proved to everyone rather than talking, because talking is easy.” Biles also commented on the publicity garnered by her recent performance at the U.S. Gymnastics Championships: "Not too many people pay attention to gymnastics, especially in a non-Olympic year. It was crazy to see how viral it went” (“Today,” NBC, 8/20).
MORE TROUBLE: In California, Scott Reid notes New Jersey-based gymnastics coach Maggie Haney is "under investigation by USA Gymnastics for verbal and emotional abuse and pressuring young female athletes to train and compete while injured." Haney is alleged to have "screamed, threatened, bullied, and harassed gymnasts on a regular basis." Haney "did not respond to multiple requests for comment" (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 8/20).
