Seven years after publicly revealing that she was among the many athletes sexually abused by disgraced USA Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar, Olympic icon Simone Biles continues to grapple with the lingering consequences of one of sport’s darkest chapters.
Biles, who has won 11 Olympic medals and remains one of the most decorated gymnasts in history, recently shared a disturbing message she received from an unknown sender—highlighting the continued emotional toll the Nassar scandal has had on her life.
In an Instagram Story post, Biles displayed a screenshot of the unsolicited text. “Were you molested by that Nasser coach?” the message read, referring to Nassar. A follow-up message went on to criticize Biles for publicly discussing her marriage, saying, “Also don’t go on the internet taking criticism from strangers about your husband or marriage. It shows how young and immature you really are damaged goods.”
Visibly shaken, Biles responded to the harassment by writing, “Hope y’all are having a better day than me. These are the texts I receive from random a** numbers. Btw y’all are f***in weird for this.”
Biles first came forward in 2018, stating on her Twitter (now X) account: “I too am one of the many survivors that was sexually abused by Larry Nassar.” Since then, more than $1 billion has been earmarked to support Nassar’s victims. However, recent developments suggest that the full story surrounding his abuse—and the institutional failures that enabled it—continues to unfold.
A recent report in The Wall Street Journal revealed that USA Gymnastics failed to properly investigate allegations involving Biles. According to the report, Biles was deliberately kept in the dark during internal probes into Nassar’s abuse, further compounding the betrayal she experienced.
Nassar, who worked with USA Gymnastics and Michigan State University, was exposed as a serial abuser who exploited his medical role to prey on young athletes under the guise of treatment. He was eventually convicted after a trove of child abuse images was discovered in his possession. In 2021, the U.S. Justice Department admitted it had failed to act on credible complaints against Nassar as early as 2015—a critical delay that allowed further abuse to continue.
The ramifications of the scandal—considered one of the most extensive in sports history—are still reverberating. For Biles, the ongoing scrutiny and unsolicited attacks reflect the enduring trauma endured by survivors.
Her public stance continues to shine a light on institutional accountability, victim advocacy, and the emotional burden many survivors still carry—long after the headlines fade.
