WASHINGTON: A former US Olympic gymnastics team doctor accused of molesting more than 100 female athletes pleaded guilty Tuesday to three charges of child pornography, avoiding tougher sexual assault charges in the first case to be heard against him.
A Michigan federal court said Larry Nassar, 53, a doctor for USA Gymnastics from 1996 to 2015, faces up to 20 years for each of the pornography charges, adding up to a maximum allowable sentence of 60 years.
In exchange for pleading guilty to those three counts, the court dropped federal criminal charges that Nassar molested four athletes, one as young as 11 at the time, on two occasions while he worked with their teams.
“Laying aside for the moment the troubling aspects of the plea bargain, it’s good to see the convictions start. First of many, Lord willing,” said Jacob Denhollander on Twitter. He was speaking on behalf of his wife, Rachael Denhollander, a former Olympian who was the first woman to go public with allegations against Nassar.
During the trial, Rachael Denhollander said she believed sport and other institutions failed to protect women and girls from Nassar. “This is not just about Larry Nassar,” she said at the time. “There are institutional dynamics that are at play.”
Michigan State fired Nassar, now 53, in September. He left USA Gymnastics in late 2015.
According to Acting US Attorney Andrew Birge, who prosecuted the case, the four women supported the plea agreement, in which the government accepted not to further prosecute their specific assault charges.
It was the first federal sexual assault case to be heard against Nassar. The court said Nassar could still be tried on other possible allegations of sexual abuse.
In addition, he faces sexual assault charges and civil lawsuits in Michigan and California in complaints involving more than 100 women who say he abused them.
“With Dr. Nassar’s admissions of guilt on federal charges today, victims and the public can be assured that a day of reckoning is indeed in Dr. Nassar’s future,” Birge said.
“Those who exploit children will be found out and they will be held accountable.”
Nassar served as the US gymnastics team’s doctor through four Olympic Games.
In a week of hearings in late June, witnesses testified that Nassar, using his position as a team doctor, molested the girls under the guise of providing medical care.
“He convinced these girls that this was some type of legitimate treatment,” the prosecutor said.
The case cast a dark shadow on the country’s vaunted youth gymnastics program, which has produced a steady stream of world and Olympic champions.
The US Olympic Committee, USA Gymnastics, and some of the country’s most prominent gymnastic clubs known for training Olympic champions, have been sued for allegedly hiding and protecting sexual abusers, including Nassar.
Also sued is Michigan State University, where coaches and trainers were allegedly told about Nassar’s abuse as early as 1999 but took no action.
US Olympic gymnastics doctor pleads guilty to child porn charges
US Olympic gymnastics doctor pleads guilty to child porn charges
Djokovic wins record 400th Slam match to power on in Australia
- The 38-year-old Serbian great swept past Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp 6-3, 6-4, 7-6
- Roger Federer (369) and Serena Williams (365) are next best
MELBOURNE: Record-shattering Novak Djokovic became the first player to win 400 Grand Slam matches Saturday on his way into the last 16 at the Australian Open.
The 38-year-old Serbian great swept past Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) under a closed roof on center court to extend his own all-time record of match wins at the majors.
Roger Federer (369) and Serena Williams (365) are next best.
Victory was also his 102nd at Melbourne Park, where he has won 10 titles, to equal Federer with most Australian Open singles wins.
Djokovic’s reward is a fourth-round clash with either Czech rising star Jakub Mensik or American tournament debutant Ethan Quinn whose match was delayed due to extreme heat.
The 24-time Slam winner is in good form so far as he bids to shatter the recent dominance of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.
“I’m still trying to give these young guys a push for their money,” said Djokovic. “I’m still around. I’m hanging in there.
“Obviously Alcaraz and Sinner are the two best players in the world. They’re playing on a different level from all of us right now.
“But, you know, when you enter the court and the ball rolls, you always have a chance.”
The 75th-ranked van de Zandschulp upset Djokovic in three sets at Indian Wells last year, but never looked like pulling off another shock.
The fourth seed wound back the clock with some phenomenal tennis in set one, securing the critical break in the fourth game after a mammoth 26-point rally.
He broke the Dutchman again on his opening serve on the second set and moved to 4-2, but it was a struggle and he became noticeably more irritable.
At one point, he smacked a ball toward an advertising hoarding out of frustration and nearly hit a ball kid, quickly apologizing.
Djokovic got work on his foot during a medical time in set three, seemingly for a blister, as they exchanged breaks and the set went to a tiebreak where he proved the most resilient.
Djokovic has been tied with Margaret Court on 24 major titles since winning the US Open in 2023.
