Saul Loeb/Pool via Reuters
- Aly Raisman said powerful organizations continue to cover up abuse in USA Gymnastics, gaslighting survivors.
- The retired gymnast talked to Trevor Noah ahead of her documentary featuring sexual abuse survivors.
- Raisman said justice will come after a full investigation into the FBI and USA Gymnastics.
- Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.
Aly Raisman says top government and sports organizations not only have a history of failing to support abuse survivors – they continue to gaslight and mistreat people who've been assaulted.
The three-time gold medalist told Trevor Noah Monday night she is grateful for the support she gets from friends, family, fans, and teammates, but that alone won't allow her to heal from the abuse she and others suffered under former USA Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar.
"The way a survivor heals is linked to the way their abuse is handled," Raisman said. "While I'm so grateful for the support that we have, the organizations and people in positions of power continue to cover it up, gaslight us, and treat us so horribly."
Raisman and three of her former teammates testified to the US Senate last week about how the FBI mishandled reports of Nassar's abuse. The 27-year-old has a special airing on Lifetime Friday in which she speaks with other survivors of sexual abuse.
On The Daily Show with Trevor Noah Monday, Raisman called not just for the FBI, USA Gymnastics, and the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee to be held accountable, but also for a full investigation into all of their communication going back decades. That's what justice would look like to her.
"Nothing's off limits," she said, "so we understand who knew what when, so there's no guesswork or speculation. In my opinion, that's the only way we can believe in a safer future."
Raisman said she's trying to be more self-compassionate in her own path to healing
Raisman told Noah that, when she first shared her story, she hadn't yet processed the trauma on her own. Now, every time she talks about being a survivor, she relives the trauma in a way.
"I'm dealing with the abuse personally but publicly at the same time," she said. "I'd never thought about that"
"Sometimes it feels like an open wound that won't heal," she added.
Raisman said to cope, she's trying to be easier on herself. When she critiques herself before or after TV interviews, for example, she tries to change the critical voice to one of a friend.
"I think the biggest thing in my healing is recognizing I need to have self-compassion and be nice to myself," she said. "And coming form the sport of gymnastics where it's all about trying to be perfect, that's hard for me to do."
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