Larry Nassar

Quick Summary

Lawrence Gerard Nassar (born 1963, Michigan) was the national medical coordinator for USA Gymnastics and an osteopathic physician at Michigan State University (MSU) who sexually abused more than 500 women and girls over a period spanning more than two decades. Operating under the guise of legitimate medical treatment, Nassar exploited his position of trust and authority to assault young athletes, including Olympic gymnasts.

In 2018, Nassar was sentenced to 40–175 years in state prison on sexual assault charges and 60 years in federal prison on child sexual abuse material (CSAM) charges. The case exposed catastrophic institutional failures at MSU, USA Gymnastics (USAG), and the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC), all of which had received complaints about Nassar for years without taking meaningful action.

Timeline of Events

The Details

The Abuse

Nassar sexually abused athletes under the guise of performing legitimate medical procedures, particularly intravaginal and intrarectal “adjustments” that he claimed were necessary treatments for hip, back, and leg conditions. He performed these procedures without gloves, without chaperones, and often while a parent was present in the room; positioning his body to block the parent’s view.

His victims ranged in age from 6 to adult athletes. Among them were some of the most decorated gymnasts in American history, including multiple Olympic gold medalists. More than 500 women and girls have been identified as survivors of his abuse.

Institutional Failures

The Nassar case is as much a story of institutional complicity as individual criminality. Multiple organizations received reports about Nassar’s conduct and failed to act:

Michigan State University

MSU received at least four formal complaints about Nassar between 1997 and 2014. In each case, the investigation was either not conducted, prematurely closed, or resolved in Nassar’s favor. A 2018 independent investigation commissioned by the university found that MSU had “failed to protect students and patients from Nassar’s predatory behavior.” The university ultimately agreed to a $500 million settlement with survivors; one of the largest in U.S. history.

USA Gymnastics

USAG received complaints about Nassar from at least 2015 and notified the FBI, but did not immediately remove him from contact with athletes. USAG’s broader culture of prioritizing competitive success over athlete safety was extensively documented in the IndyStar investigation and subsequent congressional hearings. USAG President Steve Penny resigned in 2017 and was later arrested for evidence tampering.

The FBI

The FBI’s Indianapolis field office received a detailed complaint about Nassar from USAG in July 2015. Despite the severity of the allegations, the FBI failed to open a formal investigation for more than 14 months. During that period, Nassar continued to abuse patients. The DOJ Inspector General’s 2021 report found that FBI agents made “fundamental errors,” failed to document the complaint, and later lied about their handling of the matter. Agent Michael Langeman was convicted of falsifying records.

U.S. Olympic Committee

The USOC was criticized for failing to exercise oversight over USAG and for prioritizing the organization’s reputation over athlete safety. CEO Scott Blackmun resigned in 2018. The USOC’s governance structure, which gave national governing bodies like USAG significant autonomy, was identified as a systemic vulnerability.

Sentencing & Impact

Nassar’s sentencing hearing in January 2018 became a cultural watershed. Over seven days, more than 150 survivors delivered impact statements in an Ingham County courtroom. The testimony was broadcast nationally and became one of the most-watched court proceedings in American history, giving voice to survivors of institutional sexual abuse on an unprecedented scale.

Judge Rosemarie Aquilina’s decision to allow every survivor who wished to speak became a model for trauma-informed judicial proceedings. Her concluding statement, “I just signed your death warrant”, became a defining moment of the #MeToo era.

Legislative & Policy Reforms

The Nassar case led to significant reforms:

• The SafeSport Act (2018) established the U.S. Center for SafeSport with authority to investigate abuse in Olympic sports
• Michigan enacted legislation eliminating the statute of limitations for first-degree criminal sexual conduct
• MSU implemented mandatory chaperone policies for medical examinations
• Congressional hearings led to structural reforms in USAG and USOC governance
• The FBI reformed its policies for handling sexual assault complaints

Connections