Netflix has released the trailer for the upcoming documentary called, "Athlete A."
According to the Youtube bio:
An August 2016 article in the Indianapolis Star about USA Gymnastics protecting coaches accused of abuse leads to the explosive revelation that USAG women's team doctor, Larry Nassar, had been abusing athletes for over two decades. This film follows the IndyStar reporters as they reveal the extensive cover-up that allowed abuse to thrive within elite-level gymnastics for more than two decades, the attorney who is fighting the institutions that failed these athletes, and most importantly, the brave whistle-blowers who refuse to be silenced.
You can watch the trailer below.
What I didn't know was that "Athlete A" refers to a Minnesotan named Maggie Nichols.
According to WCCO:
Nichols announced in 2018 she was the person referred to as “Athlete A,” the first to step forward to report abuse. While she released a written statement about the case then, she’s now talking about it.
“It was probably like 2013, probably the first time, and he would always like bring us, or bring me, into like this training room and close the blinds and perform his treatment that he so-called was the right thing to do, and I knew it wasn’t right,” Nichols said.
Her local coach with Twin City Twisters overhead her conversation with another athlete about Nassar’s treatments. That coach reported the abuse to USA Gymnastics but they would have to wait for justice while Nassar stayed on.
“After someone reports something as serious as sexual abuse, it should be changed in a minute. So that was very disappointing,” Nichols said. “We kind of were failed by USA Gymnastics and things like that even though they were the ones that were supposed to protect, you know, some of the best athletes in the world.”
As charges were finally brought against Nassar, Nichols watched as former USA Gymnastics teammates Aly Raisman, Gabby Douglas and others revealed they were Nassar victim-survivors. After time and careful consideration, she decided to identify herself as Athlete A, the first to report sexual abuse.
Click here to read more of Nichols' story.