d i s c ussio n G u ide

T able of
contents
3 Using this Guide
Film Synopsis
Letter from the Filmmakers
Pre and Post Screening Discussion Questions

7 Learn and Investigate

A (Toxic) Institutional Culture
Individual Complicity and Professional Ethics
Speaking Out: Survivors’ Stories
Exposing the Truth: Investigative Journalism
Oversight, Accountability, and the Law

14 Take Action: Prevent

Abuse, Support Local and
Investigative Journalism
Resources and Organizations

16 Athlete A Context
Overview of USA Gymnastics
Who’s Who in the Film
Important Dates for Athlete A

“ W he n t h e Nassar story ca me o u t,
w e wer e t ry ing to ge t o n to the
b i g ger story, of wh at’s w ro ng ,
at USA Gy m nast ics . We wa nted
Athl ete A di s c u s s i on G u i de

to est ablish t h at it went fa r

b e yond Nassar . We knew it did,
b e c a use of wh at we wer e finding
ou t abou t t h e cultur e.”

- STEVE BERT A, r eporter for The

Indianapolis St ar, IN Athle te A

2
 Using
this
G uide
Athlete A is an important
documentary for anyone who
loves sports - the athletes, parents,
coaches, sports organizations
and teams who work so hard and
believe in the healthy benefits of
engaging in competition. It is also
a story about how investigative
journalists uncovered how
gymnastics, especially at the elite
level, took athletic discipline to the
extreme, overlooked abuse for the
pursuit of power and money, and
failed the very athletes it purported
to protect.

The Discussion Guide developed for

Athlete A provides a framework and
resources to help audiences dig
deeper into this story by focusing
on these key areas:

> How multiple institutions and

individuals failed to protect
children;
> How investigative journalists
uncovered this story and
provided unbiased and accurate
reporting;
> How the justice system held
Larry Nassar accountable and
Athl ete A di s c u s s i on G u i de

continues to pursue ways to

hold others complicit in these
crimes accountable;
> And to support and uplift the
voices of survivors of sexual
abuse and highlight the courage
it takes to tell your story.

3
 Film
synopsis
Maggie Nichols devoted most of her life to being on the national gymnastics
team. Like other Olympic hopefuls, she’d given up almost everything to
achieve this goal. She was on the road to the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
But her dream was shattered after she reported being sexually abused by
USA Gymnastics (USAG) team doctor Larry Nassar, the allegedly caring
physician and pillar of his suburban community.

Also in 2016, a team of Indianapolis Star journalists— Mark Alesia, Tim

Evans and Marisa Kwiatkowski—reported on a story in which predatory
gymnastics coaches had been moved from gym to gym, but never charged
with a crime. Their story revealed that USAG protected coaches, and often
broke the law by failing to report allegations of abuse to authorities. Former
competitive gymnast Rachael Denhollander read the explosive Indianapolis
Star article and thought “Now’s the time.” She called The Indianapolis
Star about the abuse she suffered at the hands of Larry Nassar. National
Rhythmic gymnastics champion Jessica Howard read the same article and
also called the newspaper with a similar account of abuse by Nassar. Yet
another gymnast, Olympian Jamie Dantzcher, spoke to her attorney who also
contacted The Indianapolis Star regarding her Nassar allegations.

Meanwhile, reporters wondered: If there were three Nassar victims contacting

the newspaper, how many more could there be?

Turns out many many more: at least 500 reported thus far, including 9
Olympians. In training its lens on athletes vying for a coveted spot on the
American Olympic team, as well as junior gymnasts coming up the ranks,
Athlete A investigates systemic abuse and institutionalized corruption within
the world of gymnastics. This includes the scare tactics and manipulation by
renowned Romanian-born coaches Bela and Marta Karolyi whose role in the
sport was part of the pressure placed on the US gymnastics team to raise
the American Olympics profile in the latter years of the Cold War. And the
key role of Steve Penny, head of USAG, who for years systematically covered
up complaints about Nassar and predatory coaches, and buried reports of
physical, sexual and emotional abuse. “The standard of coaching was cruelty,”
according to former gymnast and Athlete A producer Jen Sey. It was a toxic
culture suffused with fear, intimidation and silence. Young athletes were used
as propaganda. Winning gold medals took precedence over the well-being of
the gymnasts. USAG capitalized on the dreams of young girls in order to win
trophies and make big bucks. Children were collateral damage.
Athl ete A di s c u s s i on G u i de

Athlete A spotlights the horrific sexual abuse of hundreds of young athletes

by USAG team doctor Larry Nassar, and shines an even brighter light on
the team of individuals working to hold USA Gymnastics and Lassar Nassar
accountable. The Indianapolis Star reporters who broke the story and
revealed the cover-up that occurred at the highest levels of the Olympic
sport. The courageous group of survivors—Nichols, Denhollander, Dantzscher
and Howard--who bravely fought the system. Together with three other
determined women—police detective Lt. Andrea Munford, prosecuting
attorney Angela Povilaitis and Judge Rosemarie Aquilina— truth prevailed.
Justice was served. Nichols was able to find joy in the sport again—at the
college level. 4
 LE T TER FROM
FILMMAKERS
Athlete A tells the story of the tireless investigative reporters and brave gymnasts who together helped send
Larry Nassar to prison and exposed the decades-long abusive culture of USA Gymnastics. The story reminds us
Americans of the value of the pursuit of truth and justice. With the help of hard-working journalists, discerning law
enforcement officials, and determined prosecutors, this group of women fought back against their abusers and
prevailed.

Jen Sey, the 1986 U.S. national women’s gymnastics champion, asked us if we would be interested in telling the
story behind the downfall of Larry Nassar, who at the time stood accused of sexually assaulting several current
and former athletes at Michigan State and in the U.S. Olympic program. We knew about Nassar’s crimes, but
we didn’t know that he was the tip of the iceberg. We learned that the cover-up of abuse perpetrated by staff of
USA Gymnastics had been going on for decades and that if we started filming right away we would witness the
unraveling of the leadership of the sport. Jen had written her memoir, Chalked Up: My Life in Elite Gymnastics in
2008, about systemic psychological and physical abuse inside USA Gymnastics. We knew that, together with Jen,
we could make a contemporary film about abuse in the sport that had strong historical ties that reverberated back
decades.

Before Athlete A, we directed Audrie & Daisy, a film about the sexual assault and subsequent bullying of high
school girls. As parents, we were floored by the experience of getting to know the families of the survivors. We are
also big fans of films such as All The President’s Men and Spotlight which highlight the heroic work of journalists.
Fact-finding is difficult, painstaking work. Speaking out against your abuser is frightening and painful. Athlete A is a
marriage of these two worlds. We were privileged to be entrusted with the opportunity to document this special
collaboration between journalists and key survivors.

Like many Americans, we are also fans of watching women’s gymnastics every four years as part of the Olympic
games. In their sport, gymnasts show us what is possible by defying the laws of gravity. In their commitment and
performances, our American Olympians serve as inspiring reminders of the incredible potential of human beings.
But, along the path to winning medals, wooing sponsors, and making money, something went awry in the Olympic
movement. Those in power first took advantage of and later attempted to silence scores of young athletes.
Fortunately, these athletes and their supporters reminded us once again of the power of human potential by
speaking truth to power. Athlete A is their story.

B o nni C o h en & J on Sh enk

d i r e c to rS
Athl ete A di s c u s s i o n G ui de

5
 Scr eening
Event
QUESTIONS

Pre-Screening Questions:

> Where do sports fit into our lives, our children’s

lives?
> When is competition healthy? What factors make
competitive and elite sports less healthy, or
harmful?

Post-Screening Discussion Questions:

> What are your reactions to this story?

> What do we learn about American culture from this
story?
> Does this film change how you think about
gymnastics, or other sports? In what ways?
> What are ways to support and amplify the voices of
survivors?
> How do you think this story would have changed
were it not for the investigative reporting of the
Indianapolis Star and other papers?
> How would you describe the relationship between
If yo u o r s o m e one you money, power, and sports?
lov e ha s e x p er ie nced > If your child or a child you love participates in
s e x u a l a ssa ult, h elp is sports, what do you know about the organization
ava il a b l e . T he non- pr of it that runs the sport? What policies do they have in
place regarding hiring? Training? Reporting abuse?
or ga ni z at i o n R AINN’ s
w e b si t e o f f ers live ch at
an d a nat i o n al se x ual
Athl ete A di s c u s s i on G u i de

ab u se a nd a s sault h ot line :

800-656-HOPE (4673)

6
 LEAR N AND
INVESTIGATE
A (To x i c) In sti tu ti o na l C u ltu r e
The culture of an institution or organization encompasses the environment, values,
and behavioral norms of a particular workplace or organization. Institutional culture
is not static, but dynamic and reflective of organizational leadership, customs, and
personnel.

In Athlete A we learn of how the multiple layers of mental, emotional, physical, and
sexual abuse within USA Gymnastics were covered up, and how institutions such as
the US Olympic Committee, Michigan State University and the F.B.I.were similarly
complicit by suppressing reports of abuse and prioritizing their reputation, money,
and power over the health, well-being, and safety of its gymnasts.

“ Th e r e wer e sexual p r edato rs ev ery wher e

( in U SA G ymnastics). They wer e in m y g y m . T he
n ati on a l te am co ach, Do n P e ters , wa s a kn o wn
s e x u a l a b user. They wer e every wher e a cro s s
t h e c ou ntry, and we knew who t hey wer e. Bu t
m o r e br oa d ly, em otio nal and p hys ica l a bus e wa s
ac tu a l ly th e no rm . And we wer e a ll s o beat en
dow n by th at and m ade so o bed ien t t hat when
w e k n e w th at ther e was a sexual a bus er in o ur
mid st w e wo uld never say any t hin g . We felt
u t ter ly po wer les s .”

- Jen Sey, Athle te A , Former Gymnast,

Au thor of Chalked Up

Dis cu s si o n Q uest ions

> What message do you take away from Jen Sey’s and Steve Berta’s
observations?
> When you think of a healthy institution, what words or ideas come to
mind?
Athl ete A di s c u s s i on G u i de

> How would you describe USA Gymnastics as an institution?

> What went wrong within USA Gymnastics that enabled the abuse and its
widespread cover-up for so many years?
> What rules and policies need to be in place to create an institutional
culture that protects its constituents and/or members from abuse?
> What needs to happen to change institutions with entrenched cultures
of complicity and inaction?
> Who is ultimately responsible when an institution is negligent, or causes
harm?
7
 I n d ivi du al C ompli c i ty and
P r of es s i onal E th i c s

“Why does this [sexual misconduct/abuse

with minors] seem to keep happening? Why do
people not report as they’re required to do?”

- Mar isa Kwiatkowski, The Indianapoli s St ar

Sexual abuse in USA Gymnastics did not begin with Larry Nassar. The IndyStar
reported that over a 10 year period USA Gymnastics compiled more than 50 sexual
misconduct complaints that were never investigated, and their illegal policy was
to file those in a drawer in an executive’s office. In fact, “those coaches went on,
according to police and court records, to abuse at least 14 underage gymnasts after
the warnings.”1

Mark Alesia, former investigative journalist at the IndyStar says, “ The extent
to which certain powerful people will go to protect their salary, their powerful
institution, their position in life. Here the extent was covering up child sexual abuse.
I’d like to think no matter how powerful or how much money I made, I’d never cover
up something like this.”2

Here are a few cases the IndyStar uncovered:

> William “Bill” McCabe: As early as 1998 USA Gymnastics received a complaint

of sexual misconduct by McCabe. Three more complaints were filed the
following year. USA Gymnastics never investigated the complaints and for the
Dis cu s si o n next seven years McCabe continued to coach young gymnasts. Arrested in
2006 he was charged with molesting gymnasts as young as 5th grade, secretly
Q u est i o ns videotaping young girls changing clothes and posting their naked pictures on
the internet. He pleaded guilty in 2006 in Savannah, Georgia, to federal charges
of sexual exploitation of children and making false statements. He is serving a
> What pressures and
30-year sentence.
motivations might lead
individuals to be complicit, > Mark Schiefelbein: In his trial it was revealed that USA Gymnastics had a file
cover-up, and fail to report on him with previous complaints that were never investigated. In 2003 he
sexual abuse of their was charged with seven counts of aggravated sexual battery and one count
colleagues? of aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor. He is serving a 36-year prison
sentence.
> Who should establish and
foster professional ethics > James Bell: “USA Gymnastics had a sexual misconduct complaint file on
within an institution such James Bell at least five years before his 2003 arrest for molesting three young
as USA Gymnastics? gymnasts in Rhode Island.”3 He went on the run in 2004 and was finally caught in
2017. He pleaded guilty to three counts of child molestation and is serving eight
> How should professionals,
Athl ete A di s c u s s i on G u i de

years in prison.
such as the coaches in
USA Gymnastics who did > Marvin Sharp: Sharp was named 2010 women’s coach of the year even though
not emphatically act to USA Gymnastics had received reports detailing allegations of inappropriate
protect the gymnasts, be conduct with underage gymnasts. He continued coaching until his arrest in 2015.
held accountable? Shortly after he was charged in an Indianapolis court, he killed himself in jail.4

> What kinds of support,

including policies and
training, would support 1
 https://www.indystar.com/story/news/investigations/2016/08/04/usa-gymnastics-sex-abuse-protected-
and encourage individuals coaches/85829732/
2
 Interview conducted by Blueshift Education, June 3, 2020.
to report abuse when they 3
 https://www.indystar.com/story/news/investigations/2016/08/04/usa-gymnastics-sex-abuse-protected-
see it? coaches/85829732/
4
 Ibid. 8
 Spe ak i n g O u t: Su r v i vo rs’ Stor i es

“One person alone can’t do this (spark the investigation).

We need to help people understand that it takes a team
and a community to respond - hundreds of people -
to get survivors’ stories heard.”

- R achael Denhollander 5 , former gymnast, advocate,

au thor of What is a Gir l Worth?

For every survivor who chooses to come forward, there are many more who do not. The reasons a person might not
report sexual abuse or assault vary, but many have to do with cultural constructs around sex and sexuality that lead
victims to believe they are at fault, to doubt their own experience, or to fear the consequences of reporting.6

It is estimated that for every 1,000 sexual assaults, 230 are reported to police, and of those, only four
perpetrators will serve time in prison.7 In Larry Nassar’s case, it took a team of hundreds of survivors, coaches,
investigators, journalists, law enforcement officers, attorneys, and many more to bring Larry Nassar to justice.

In order to increase the number of assault survivors who report, and perpetrators who are held accountable, we need
to believe and support survivors. Everyone can be a part of the solution and prevent future abuse from happening by
believing survivors, validating their experience, and helping them heal.

J a mi e D ant zsch er
“Larry, you saw all the physical, mental
and emotional abuse from our coaches
and USAG national staff. You pretended
to be on my side, calling all of them
the monsters. But instead of protecting
children, and reporting the abuse you
saw, you used your position of power to
manipulate and abuse as well. You knew
I was powerless. I’m here today, with
all these other women, not victims, but
survivors, to tell you face-to-face, that your
days of manipulation are over. We have a
voice now. We have the power now.”

R a c h a e l D e nh olland e r
“I will be filing a police report with the
hope that the DA picks it up and presses
charges for First-Degree Sexual Assault.
I know that means that if the DA picks it
up, I’ll be testifying, with great detail in
Athl ete A di s c u s s i o n G ui de

open court, in front of him (Larry Nassar),

knowing that we both have the same
memories. And I hate that idea. I hate it. But
if I don’t, he can continue, and I hate that
https://www.rainn.org/statistics/criminal-justice-system&sa=D&ust=1592503666876000&us
idea more.”
g=AFQjCNHfN5HCcLTwv82X2H2bUaxNiHSm4g

 Interview with Blueshift Education, June 8, 2020

5 9
 https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/18/us/kavanaugh-christine-blasey-ford.html
6

 https://www.bjs.gov/index.cfm?ty=pbdetail&iid=5366
7
 J es si c a H owar d
“When something hits you like, that realization, that it was sexual abuse, and
you haven’t known, haven’t thought about it, it becomes so real. Like it was
yesterday. Like it just happened to you, like you are 15.”

M a g g i e Nich ols
“USA Gymnastics and the United States Olympic Committee did not provide
a safe environment for me and my teammates and friends to train. We were
subjected to Dr. Larry Nassar at every National Team Training camp, which
occurred monthly at the Karolyi Ranch. Up until now, I was identified as
“Athlete A: by USA Gymnastics, the United States Olympic Committee and
Michigan State University. And I want everyone to know that he did not do
this to Athlete A, he did it to Maggie Nichols.”
- Gina Nichols reading Maggie Nichols’ impact statement at Larry
Nassar’s trial

J e nni f e r Se y
“You know, in other sports, the athletes are adults. They can reasonably
make choices about what they want. I don’t think that is true in gymnastics.
These kids go to these National training centers when they’re ten years old.
They are abused and mistreated, for years, so even by the time they’re of
age, the line between tough coaching and child abuse, gets blurred.

So, then when real obvious abuse, sexual abuse, happens, you already
don’t believe your own take on things. Because you think you’re hungry, you
think your ankle hurts, you think that you’re working really hard, and you’re
screamed at that you’re lazy and you’re fat and there’s nothing wrong with
your ankle. I can only imagine that what you feel is, I’m lucky to be here, so
I’m not gonna say anything.”

D i sc u s si o n Quest ions
> What do we have to learn from the stories of survivors
shared in Athlete A?
> What are ways to support survivors who do not receive the
amount of media coverage or the corroboration of other
survivors that come forward, as happened in this case?
> The impact statements given by survivors at the trial of
Larry Nassar were negotiated by the Assistant Attorney
Athl ete A di s c u s s i o n G ui de

General Angela Povilaitis as part of Nassar’s plea deal. It was

evident that these truth telling efforts were both difficult and
empowering. What did you learn about the healing process
from the survivors who shared their impact statement in
Athlete A?
> Jamie Dantzscher declares, “We have a voice now. We have
the power now.” How do you understand voice and power
within the context of her impact statement? What are some
of the ways we learn that survivors gained their voice and
power over the course of the documentary?
10
 Expo s in g t h e Tr u th : I n v esti gati ve
Jo ur n al is m

“ I v i e w i nv est igat ive j our nalis m a s s hining

a li g h t o n th ings wh en t h e y ’ r e not wo r king
t h e way t h ey ’ r e s uppo s ed to .”

- Mar isa Kwiatkowski, Investigative Jour nalist 8

At the heart of Athlete A is the team of investigative journalists, whose commitment

to truth and accuracy, and ultimately to stopping further harm to the athletes
within USA Gymnastics, brought the abuse and the cover-up to light so that the
perpetrators, would be held accountable.

Michigan Assistant Attorney General Angela Povilaitis said at Nassar’s sentencing,

“If IndyStar journalists didn’t help expose the sexual abuse of young gymnasts
by Larry Nassar, it could have gone on even longer. We, as a society, need
investigative journalists more than ever. What finally started this reckoning and
ended this decades-long cycle of abuse was investigative reporting. Without
that first Indianapolis Star story in August 2016; without the story where Rachael
(Denhollander) came forward publicly shortly thereafter — he would still be
practicing medicine, treating athletes and abusing kids.”9

Investigative journalists play a significant role in the pursuit of truth and justice.
Recent examples include: Watergate, 1972 (The Washington Post); the My Lai
Massacre, 1969 (St. Louis Dispatch); the Pentagon Papers, 1971 (The New York Times
and The Washington Post); and the Harvey Weinstein sexual assault case, 2017 (The
New Yorker and The New York Times). One common denominator in each of these
stories is adhering to a strong code of professional ethics and principles set forth by
the Society for Professional Journalists.

> Seek Truth and Report It

> Minimize Harm
> Act Independently
> Be Accountable and Transparent

Dis cu s si o n Q uest ions

Athl ete A di s c u s s i on G u i de

> What is the role of investigative journalism in our democracy?

> In what ways did the journalists in the film adhere to the ethical
principles?
> In your opinion, what is the relationship between investigative journalism,
the law, and justice?
> What further questions would you hope journalists would explore and
investigate in regards to this story?

11
8
 Interview with Blueshift Education
9
 https://www.indystar.com/story/news/2018/01/24/what-prosecutor-said-indystars-reporting-larry-nassar-case/1062360001/
 Ov e rs i gh t, Ac c ou nt abi li ty, and th e Law

“I didn’t know who Maggie was, but she told

me the story and told me that her daughter
had reported in June of 2015. And then I knew
exactly who I was dealing with. I was dealing
with an organization that didn’t give a rat’s
ass about children, that cared only about
itself, and that was covering up rape.”

- John Manly, at tor ney, in Athle te A

Mandatory Reporting and Child Abuse Laws

Historically, societal understanding and agreement about child abuse is relatively

new. The 1962 publication of the article, The Battered Child Syndrome10 helped
doctors, for the first time, recognize the widespread prevalence of child abuse,
its short and long-term effects on children and the adults they grow into, and the
need to report it to authorities. Prior to that, child abuse of all kinds was not broadly
understood as a common issue, or one for debate in public. Since that publication,
legal and medical frameworks for child abuse have arisen across many fields.11

In 1974 Congress passed the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA),
which has been updated and expanded upon many times, to write protection for
D e fini t i o n o f children into our national law.12 Notably, CAPTA mandates that every state create
provisions for certain individuals, such as doctors, social workers, educators,
Ov e rsi g h t: ( n ou n) / and others, to report known or suspected cases of child abuse to appropriate
ˈ ōvə r ˌ s īt/ 1. watc hfu l authorities.
an d re s p o n s ibl e
care ; re g ul ato r y Additionally, in 2017 Congress passed the Protecting Young Victims and Safe
s u p er v is io n (eg: Sport Authorization Act which created the US Center for SafeSport and mandates
cooperation with rules and policies meant to prevent abuse and to encourage
con g re s s io n a l reporting within the USOC and all the NGBs it oversees.
ove r s ig ht ) 2 .
an i n a d ve r te nt To learn more click here to find the mandatory reporting laws. Read an overview of
om i s s io n o r e r ro r. Federal and State Reporting Laws from SafeSport here.

D e fini t i o n o f United States Senate Report: “The Courage to Report”

Ac c o u nt a b i l i t y :
Just a day after Larry Nassar was sentenced Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kansas)
( n ou n ) /ə ˌ ko un( t ) and Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Connecticut), who have oversight authority
Athl ete A di s c u s s i on G u i de

ə ˈ b i lə d ē / 1. a n over amateur sports, including USOC and its affiliated NGBs, convened the U.S.
ob li g atio n o r Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, Subcommittee on
wi llin g n e s s Manufacturing, Trade and Consumer Protection. They were determined to turn
to acce pt their shock into action and investigate how such a systematic failure of oversight
occurred. Their goals included:
re s po n s ib il it y o r to
acco unt fo r o ne’s
act i o n s .

 https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/327895
10

 https://www.huffpost.com/entry/battered-child-syndrome_b_2406348
12
11

 https://www.childwelfare.gov/pubPDFs/about.pdf
12
 > Understanding the alarming and dysfunctional systems that continued to put athletes at risk.
> Gauging and understanding the prevalence of sexual abuse across other sports at different levels by interviewing
survivors of Larry Nassar as well as survivors in a range of other sports to know who else was at risk, and how the
Subcommittee could act to prevent future abuse.
> Last, to identify legislative and oversight actions that Congress should consider to protect amateur athletes from this
kind of sexual abuse and ensure perpetrators are held accountable and prevented from harming others.13

For a year and a half the Subcommittee waded through documentary evidence, convened four hearings on sexual
abuse in amateur sports, and interviewed more than dozens of athletes and survivors, coaches, parents, advocates,
USOC, USAG and NGB officials, SafeSport officials, law enforcement, and others before publishing their report. From the
conclusion of the investigation, The Senate Report, “The Courage to Act” was published. It recommended along with a
massive personnel and policy change at the US Olympic Committee, and throughout the National Governing Bodies it
oversees. To date these changes are still evolving.

The results of the inquiry into the FBI’s inaction remain in question. On June 17, 2020, more than 120 of the case survivors
sent a letter to the Department of Justice demanding that portion of the investigation be made public.14

Highlights of Senate Findings15

> Officials at USOC, USAG, MSU and the FBI sat on evidence of sexual misconduct for over a
year and failed to act - allowing for additional sexual abuse of dozens of other girls.
> Nassar was able to abuse over 300 athletes over two decades because of ineffective
oversight by USAG and USOC.
> USAG and USOC failed to uphold their statutory purposes and duties to protect amateur
athletes from sexual, emotional, and physical abuse.
> USAG and USOC knowingly concealed abuse by Nassar, leading to further abuse beginning
in the summer of 2015 - September 2016.

Dis cu s si o n Q uest ions

> What is your understanding of mandatory reporting? How might that system be
bolstered and expanded to create more awareness of and responsiveness to
abuse when it happens?
> After watching Athlete A, what systems of accountability failed and which
succeeded?
> The Senate hearings and report held the agencies involved in the abuse
and cover-up accountable, resulting in personnel and policy change. What
systems of accountability are in place for organizations that are not overseen by
government agencies?
Athl ete A di s c u s s i o n G ui de

13
 United States Senate Olympics Investigation, The Courage of Survivors: A Call to Action, July 30, 2019, https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/c/2/c232725e-b717-4ec8-

13
913e-845ffe0837e6/FCC5DFDE2005A2EACF5A9A25FF76D538.2019.07.30-the-courage-of-survivors--a-call-to-action-olympics-investigation-report-final.pdf, p. 3
14
 “More than 120 Larry Nassar victims call for DOJ to release report on FBI’s handling of case”, NBC News website, accessed June 17, 2020. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/sports/
more-120-larry-nassar-victims-call-doj-release-report-fbi-n1231211
15
 Ibid., p. 3- 5.
 T ake Action:
P r e v e n t Ab us e , S UPPORT I NVESTI GATI VE JOU R N ALI S M

Prevention of childhood sexual abuse is an urgent problem in our society. The first step in prevention is raising awareness about
the problem. It must be clear that children cannot consent to any sexual activity with an adult, and that the responsibility for
preventing abuse, and stopping it when it happens, lies with all adults.

P r e v e nt i o n o f ch ild h ood se x ua l a s s a ult must ha ppen o n multiple l e ve l s .

Families:
Talk to your children openly about your values around healthy relationships and sexuality. Let them know that they can
speak openly with you no matter what happens. Ask questions about the hiring practices and policies around sexual abuse
in place at any organization your child may become involved with.
> Further resources available for parents at:
o RAINN.org: https://www.rainn.org/safety-parents
o PreventChildAbuse.org: https://preventchildabuse.org/resources/ptow/
o Parenting Tips Poster

Schools and Universities:

Title IX of the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights guarantees that students are free from sex discrimination
at any public school. Title IX enforcement has included policies and procedures related to sexual harassment, abuse and
assault at schools. Ask your school about their policies and hiring practices, and how they train teachers to comply with
those policies.
> For more information visit:
o KnowYourIX.org: A student-led movement to prevent sexual violence in high schools and higher education
campuses.
o https://www.rainn.org/safety-students
o Infographic for Schools and Organizations

Youth-serving Organizations, including sports, faith groups, and others:

Have a clear policy about how your organization protects its members from sexual harassment and abuse, and train staff
and volunteers on those policies, as well as on how to report any suspected or known abuse.
> For more information visit:
o Safety Suggestion Poster for Schools and Youth-Serving Organizations
o Futures WIthout Violence: Coaching Boys into Men Playbook

Community-Wide Efforts:
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has published technical assistance guides for communities looking to
Athl ete A di s c u s s i o n G ui de

implement evidence-based violence prevention, including strategies for raising awareness, promoting youth-led and
women-led empowerment programs, and supporting survivors.

Click here for a list of community-based and national organizations working to end domestic violence.

State and National Government: Legislation and Public Policy:

At the national level, rules like Title IX in schools, and the SafeSport program govern the way youth-serving organizations
are run, and how they are held accountable when abuse happens. Laws at the state and national level govern mandatory
reporting rules, definitions of abuse and assault, statutes of limitation, and other laws related to sexual abuse. Find out
what’s happening in your state here: https://www.rainn.org/public-policy-action 14
 S U PP ORT LOC AL AN D
I NVESTI GATI VE
J OU R NALI S M

As the way people are consuming news

is changing, so is the landscape of
support for the kind of local, investigative
journalism featured in Athlete A. But there
is something everyone can do to support
independent investigative journalism:

1. Pay for Your Online News - paying for a

subscription to your favorite news source
helps fund further investigative efforts
2. Support Your Local News Sources

The Knight Foundation supports

funders of local news efforts

The Fund for Local Journalism

provides a list of local news sources
to which you can subscribe.

3. Get Involved - there are many

non-profit organizations that conduct
investigative journalism, and to which you
can donate directly or subscribe:

The Center for Investigative

Reporting (CIR) - Founded in 1977,
CIR is the nation’s first non-profit
investigative journalism organization.
Their website, REVEAL, is where CIR
publishes its reporting.

The Center for Public Integrity

(CPI) - Founded in 1989, CPI is a
nonprofit, nonpartisan newsroom
investigating democracy, power
and privilege. Our reporting focuses
on the influence of money and the
impact of inequality on our society.
Athl ete A di s c u s s i on G u i de

ProPublica - ProPublica’s award-

winning journalism has helped hold
accountable leaders at the state,
local, and national level. It’s also
contributed to the passage of new
laws and reversals of harmful policies.
Its mission is to expose wrongdoing
by government, business, and other
institutions and uses investigative
journalism to spur real reform.
15
 Athle te A
Context
Ov e r vie w US A G y m n a sti c s
USA Gymnastics opened its offices in 1983, replacing the US Gymnastics Federation
as the National Governing Body (NGB) for the sport of gymnastics. Its members
include more than 121,000 athletes and 3,000 gyms, including private gyms,
coaches and athletes who are training for elite-level competition. The US Olympic
and Paralympic Committee (USOC) empowers USA Gymnastics to select the teams
that will represent the United States at the Olympics, the World Championships,
and other international competitions, including the athletes, coaches, trainers, and
other staff.

The USOC governs all the National Governing Boards of amateur sports
associations in the United States that associate with international athletic
competitions. The USOC was formed by an act of Congress, the 1978 Amateur
Sports Act.

Who’s Who i n th e F i l m
The Indianapolis Star Investigative Reporters
> Steve Berta - Investigations Editor, The Indianapolis Star
> Marisa Kwiatkowski - Investigative Reporter, The Indianapolis Star
> Mark Alesia - Investigative Reporter, The Indianapolis Star
> Tim Evans - Investigative Reporter, The Indianapolis Star

Gymnasts
> Jamie Dantzscher - USA Olympic team 2000
> Rachael Denhollander - Former gymnast, attorney, advocate, and
author of What is a Girl Worth?
> Jessica Howard - Rhythmic Gymnastics National Champion, 1999,
2000, 2001
> Maggie Nichols - Reigning NCAA all-around champion
> Jennifer Sey - USA National Champion Gymnast, 1986, author of
Athl ete A di s c u s s i on G u i de

Chalked Up: Inside Elite Gymnastics’ Merciless Coaching, Overzealous

Parents, Eating Disorders, and Elusive Olympic Dreams
> Tracee Talavera - USA National all-around champion, 1981 and 1982,
member of the 1984 Olympic team

Family members of Gymnasts

> Gina and John Nichols - Maggie Nichols’ parents

16
 USA Gymnastics
> Rhonda Faehn - Former Head
of USA Gymnastics Women’s
Program
> Sarah Jantzi - Maggie Nichols
coach at Twin City Twisters
> Béla Karolyi - USA national
team coordinator and head
coach of the USA national
gymnastics team
> Martha Karolyi - USA national
team coordinator and head
coach of the USA national
gymnastics team
> Larry Nassar - USA Gymnastics
doctor, osteopathic physician at
Michigan State University, and
convicted sex offender
> Steve Penny - President and
CEO of USA Gymnastics - April
4, 2005 - March 16, 2017
> Geza Pozsar - Karolyi
Choreographer, 1974-2002

Attorneys and Law

Enforcement
> John Manly - Manly, Stewart &
Finaldi - Nichols family lawyer
> Angela Povilaitis, Assistant
Attorney General, State of
Michigan
> Andrea Munford, Detective
Lieutenant, Michigan State
University Police
Athl ete A di s c u s s i on G u i de

17
 Import ant Dates for
Athle te A 16

Summer 1936 The U.S. sends its first women’s gymnastics team to the Olympics.
Berlin

1963 USA Gymnastics Federation created.

Summer 1972 Russian gymnast Olga Korbut wins three gold medals and her performance redefines the sport
Munich from emphasising ballet and elegance to acrobatics and technique. Gymnastics moves from a
Olympics
niche sport to one of the most popular sports in the world.

Summer 1976 14-year-old Romanian gymnast Nadia Comaneci, coached by Bela and Marta Karolyi, becomes
Montreal first ever gymnast to receive Perfect 10(s) at the Olympic games; wins gold medals and a bronze
Olympics
on floor.

March 1981 Bela, Marta and Geza embark on a US tour of 15 cities with the Romanian Team; after their last stop
in NYC, the ‘Transylvanian Trio’ defect, skipping their return flight home.

1982 - 1983 The Karolyis begin acquiring land just north of Houston and start training a few girls from the city
on the weekends - his reputation as “Nadia’s coach” attracts many girls, including Mary Lou Retton.

1983 USA Gymnastics replaces USGF, opens office in Indianapolis with Mike Jacki at the helm. Facing
financial difficulty, USAG begins soliciting funds from McDonald’s, Dodge, K-Mart, and others,
ushering in a new era for the organization.

July 1984 Mary Lou Retton becomes first woman from a non-Eastern Bloc country to win the Olympic all-
LA Olympics around title. Bela Karolyi famously runs out on the floor after Mary Lou’s win.

1984 When Bela returns from the Olympics, girls are “lined up” to be invited to his ranch, heralding a
Post- new era in gymnastics vis-à-vis money and sponsorships.
Olympics

1986 Nassar joins the USA Gymnastics National Team medical staff as an athletic trainer.

1993 Nassar receives osteopathic medical degree from Michigan State University (MSU).

1994 Nassar begins abusing Jamie Dantzscher; abuse continues for six years.

Summer 1996 US Women win their first team gold in Atlanta, with Marta Karolyi as head coach; Nassar attends
his first Olympics with the team; Karolyis retire from gymnastics after 1996.

1996 Nassar is appointed National Medical Coordinator for USA Gymnastics.

1997 Nassar becomes a team physician and assistant professor at MSU.

October 1998 USAG is first made aware of sexual misconduct complaints against Georgia coach Bill McCabe via a
Athl ete A di s c u s s i o n G ui de

packet of information put together by a Florida gym owner; USAG does not investigate because there
is no letter of complaint from a parent or athlete (and they renew his membership the following year).

2013 Larry Nassar first abuses Maggie Nichols.

June 17, 2015 First report by Sarah Jantzi to Rhonda Faehn about her conversation with Maggie Nichols
regarding Larry Nassar’s sexual abuse of her and two other gymnasts. Rhonda Faehn immediately
notifies Steve Penny who says he’ll report it to the “proper authorities.” Two weeks later on June
30th, Jantzi reports she has learned from Maggie that two other elite gymnasts had stated that
Nassar had “massaged her oddly as well.” 18
 Aug. 4, 2016 The Indianapolis Star launches its investigation: “A blind eye to sex abuse: How USA Gymnastics
failed to report cases.”

Sept. 12, 2016 The Indianapolis Star publishes the first story on Larry Nassar: “Former USA Gymnastics doctor
accused of abuse.”

Sept. 25, 2016 The Indianapolis Star reported more criminal complaints against Nassar: “16 more women accuse
former USA Gymnastics doctor of sexual abuse.”

Nov. 22, 2016 Child sex abuse charges filed against Nassar: “Ex-USA Gymnastics doctor’s charges are ‘tip of the
iceberg.’”

Dec. 16, 2016 Nassar indicted on federal child pornography charges: Larry Nassar indicted on federal child porn
charges (Lansing State Journal).

Jan. 10, 2017 federal lawsuit filed against Nassar, Michigan State University, USA Gymnastics, and Twistars
gymnastics club wherein eighteen victims allege sexual assault, battery, molestation, and
harassment.

Dec. 20, 2017 Olympic gymnast McKayla Maroney filed a lawsuit against the United States Olympic Committee,
USA Gymnastics, and Michigan State University for the multiple organizational failures to “properly
investigate, discipline, or remove” sports doctor Larry Nassar after complaints of sexual abuse
suffered under his care.

Jan. 24, 2018 Nassar sentenced to 40-175 years in prison on sexual assault charges (in addition to 60 years for
child pornography charges).

Feb. 14, 2018 Passage of the “Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse and Safe Sport Authorization Act of
2017.”

Sept. 2018 Department of Justice opens investigation into FBI’s handling of the sexual abuse claims against
Nassar.

OCT. 2018 Steve Penny arrested on charges of tampering with evidence.

April 2019 Maggie Nichols wins the NCAA All-Around Championship for the second year in a row.

JULY 2019 EMPOWERING OLYMPIC AND AMATEUR ATHLETES ACT OF 2019 -Blumental/Moran Bill will
strengthen and expand protections for US athletes at all levels.

SUMMER 2021 2021 Olympic Games

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19
 These dates were compiled from https://www.indystar.com/pages/interactives/larry-nassar-timeline/ and from Actual Films internal timeline in the making of Athlete A.
16
 ATHELE TEA FILM.co m

Thank you to Jen Sey, Rachael Denhollander, Marisa Kwiatkwoski, and

Mark Alesia for their insights and time during the guide’s development.

Guide Developed by