156. THE VICTIMS OF USA GYMNASTICS. 

156. One hundred and fifty-six women. Let that number sink in. One hundred and fifty-six athletes, sexually abused. Minors, girls, teens, women. Larry Nassar, the former USA Gymnastics doctor, was found guilty of sexually abusing countless athletes under the guise of medical treatment. His actions went unchecked for years, enabled by those who chose to ignore the athletes' cries for help. How was it possible for decades of abuse to go by without anyone stepping in to stop it?

156. The Need for Perfection. I'm not a gymnast myself, but I was a dancer my whole childhood up until I was 16. I know all too well the toxic environment that comes with such sports — the constant need to be perfect, and the feeling of being disposable as soon as you're not. Gymnastics has long shared the same roots. The demand for flawlessness is all-encompassing: your routines, your appearance, your weight — everything must be pristine, with no room for exception. This culture isn't just perpetuated by individual coaches; however, it runs deep in gymnastics' history, through the USA Gymnastics organization, the Olympic committee, and boot camps like the one led by notorious coaches like the Russian couple, Martha and Béla Károlyi. 

156. Safety should have never been in question. We are talking about young girls, often pre-pubescent — 12, 13, years old — whose well-being should have been protected at all costs. Yet, instead of safety, they were drilled into having a soldier mentality, to push through pain, to never question authority. The expectation of being untouchable on the mat took precedence over basic human decency and protection. No matter the age, what happened to those girls is horrific, and here we are, grappling with a reality where those who were most vulnerable were let down, time after time.

One hundred and fifty six. In a sport that was supposed to be their sanctuary, these athletes weren't protected. Many great gymnasts quit because of the abuse — gymnasts like Jamie Dantzscher and Dominique Moceanu, who spoke out about the deep-seated culture of fear and exploitation. Others have shared their trauma, some quietly stepped away, and many resent the very sport that once brought them joy. Even today, gymnasts face the mental aftermath. Take Simone Biles, who courageously withdrew from the Tokyo Olympics after experiencing the twisties — a loss of spatial awareness, a mental block symptomatic of years of pressure, stress, and unresolved trauma.

The abuse these athletes endured wasn't just physical; it was emotional, mental, and systemic. It was a betrayal by those who were meant to guide them, to nurture their talent, and to protect them. It was a betrayal by a system that valued medals over the well-being of children, that prioritized success over safety. The ripple effects of this abuse are still being felt today, and they serve as a stark reminder of the need for accountability and change.

156.  How? How did we let this happen, and how can we ensure it never happens again?