Larry Nassar, the disgraced former sports doctor who sexually abused gymnasts, including Olympic medallists, has reportedly been stabbed multiple times in prison.
The 59-year-old was involved in a violent altercation with another inmate at a Florida federal prison, which resulted in him sustaining multiple stab wounds, sources told the Associated Press.
Nassar was sentenced to 300+ years in prison in 2018. The conviction followed accusations from over 250 athletes, amongst them Olympic champion Simone Biles, who bravely came forward with claims of his abuse.
The former doctor also pleaded guilty to possessing child sexual abuse material, leading to a 60-year prison sentence in a 2017 federal court ruling. In the following year, two separate Michigan courts sentenced him to up to 175 years and up to 125 years, respectively, for sexually abusing female gymnasts under his care.
Victims of Nassar's sexual abuse, spanning over two decades, relayed heartbreaking accounts during 2018 impact statements. Several athletes revealed they had informed adults, such as coaches and athletic trainers, about the abuse, but their reports went unheeded.
After a five-year legal tussle, Nassar's victims secured a significant victory in December 2021. The victims reached a nearly $400 million settlement with USA Gymnastics (USAG), the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC), and insurance companies.
This settlement included claims from Olympic gold medallists Biles, Aly Raisman, and McKayla Maroney, all of whom count among Nassar's most renowned victims of sexual abuse.
In July 2015, Maggie Nichols became the first person to report Nassar's sexual abuse to USA Gymnastics leaders, which was subsequently relayed to the FBI’s Indianapolis field office.
Unfortunately, it took an alarming 17 months before an investigation was initiated, with the push coming after Michigan State University’s campus police received another complaint about Nassar.
A subsequent report released by the Justice Department's watchdog presented a damning indictment of the bureau's management of the case. The report claimed that the delay in action allowed Nassar, a serial sex offender, to sexually abuse dozens of additional victims.
While serving his prison sentence, Nassar has made multiple attempts to challenge his conviction.
He argued that he was unjustly treated by the judge during his 2018 trial, who referred to him as a "monster" and stated he should "wither" in prison like the wicked witch in The Wizard of Oz. His last-ditch effort to appeal was emphatically rejected by the Michigan Supreme Court in June 2022.