Gymnasts React To Judge Rosemarie Aquilina Sentencing Larry Nassar To 175 Years

“I just signed your death warrant,” Judge Rosemarie Aquilina said as she sentenced the former USA Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar to 40 to 175 years in prison, Wednesday, putting an end to the seven-day hearing that witnessed as many as 150 women stepping forward to speak about the abuse they suffered at the hands of the disgraced doctor.

“As much as it was my honor and privilege to hear the sister survivors, it was my honor and privilege to sentence you. Because, sir, you do not deserve to walk outside of a prison ever again. You have not owned yet what you did. I wouldn't send my dogs to you, sir,” Judge Aquilina told Nassar during the hearing.

Nassar pleaded guilty to 10 counts of sexual assault of young girls and women, BBC reported. He was accused of sexually abusing at least 156 young girls and women under the pretext of medical examination.

After his sentencing, an emotional Nassar said to his accusers: “Your words these past several days have had a significant effect on myself and have shaken me to my core. I will carry your words with me for the rest of my days,” New York Times reported.

Soon after Nassar’s sentencing, reactions poured in from social media with many accusers lauding Judge Aquilina for her justice.

Gymnast Simon Biles, who was reportedly one of Nassar’s victims, tweeted praising the judge for her decision and even thanked her for the verdict.

Apart from Biles, other athletes including Jordyn Weiber, Alexandra Raisman, Jade Capua, Anne Marie Anderson, and Melissa Imrie too took to Twitter to express their gratitude toward Judge Aquilina. Other social media users too praised Nassar’s victims for coming forward and speaking up against the abuse.

Jacob Denhollander, the husband of Rachael Denhollander, who was one of Nassar’s victims, tweeted praising his wife for her bravery to speak against the doctor. Rachael was the first one to testify against Nassar in the court.

Soon after the verdict was out, the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) said it would conduct an investigation into the sex abuse scandal involving Nassar.

In an open letter, USOC chief executive Scott Blackmun wrote: “The USOC has decided to launch an investigation by an independent third party to examine how an abuse of this proportion could have gone undetected for so long.”

Meanwhile, Michigan State University (MSU) President Lou Anna Simon resigned late Wednesday in the wake of the Nassar scandal, a letter posted on the university’s official website stated. Nassar was a former longtime employee of the MSU.

“Throughout my career, I have consistently and persistently spoken and worked on behalf of Team MSU. I have tried to make it not about me. I urge those who have supported my work to understand that I cannot make it about me now. Therefore, I am tendering my resignation as president according to the terms of my employment agreement," he wrote.

“The last year and a half has been very difficult for the victims of Larry Nassar, for the university community, and for me personally. To the survivors, I can never say enough that I am so sorry that a trusted, renowned physician was really such an evil, evil person who inflicted such harm under the guise of medical treatment. I know that we all share the same resolve to do whatever it takes to avert such tragedies here and elsewhere,” he added.