I remember the 2012 Summer Olympics. I remember watching the US Women’s Gymnastics Team win gold. I remember the victory tour and how in awe I was of the whole thing. I remember the 2016 Olympics when the US won again.

As an aspiring gymnast, I idolized Olympians like Aly Raisman, Gabby Douglas, and Simone Biles.  For me, they symbolized everything I wanted to be and everything I wanted to do in life. I used to dream of going to the Olympics and being like my heroes.

But little did I know, competing in the Olympics wasn’t the only thing these women had to deal with. They also had the burden of being sexually abused by a man they had been told to trust.

The doctor for the Olympic team and Michigan State University (MSU), Larry Nassar, sexually assaulted over a hundred women dating back to 1998. He has admitted to taking advantage of his position to abuse women and girls.

I had no idea. The Olympic team gave off no impression that they were experiencing such a terrible event. They competed with grace and elegance, and then won, despite the fear and insecurities they must have been feeling at that time.  They should have never had to feel that way in the first place.

Jordyn Wieber, part of the gold-winning team of 2012, broke down in tears as she addressed Nassar with her victim impact statement. She questioned the medical care she received for her injured shin and how maybe everything would’ve been different had Nassar been more focused on the health of the team.

Wieber had never been my favorite gymnast. I always thought she was cold and self centered. But now, knowing what she had to battle while also dealing with the pressure of being perfect, I have never respected anyone more in my life.

I hold the survivors, Wieber, Raisman, and the rest of the 161 women abused, in such high regard. They have been through so much and refuse to be seen as victims. They have be able to be strong in the toughest of times.

But some women weren’t so lucky. Being sexually abused is absolutely awful and no one should ever have to experience it. But what’s worse is telling someone you trust about it and having them not believe in you.

Chelsey Markham committed suicide 10 years after visiting Nassar for an injury and receiving attention she did not want. Kyle Stephens, the only non-medical victim, was assaulted by Nassar from age 6 to age 12. Her father killed himself, assumingly from the guilt of not believing his daughter when she told him what had been happening to her.

None of these occurrences should have happened. Nassar doesn’t have a shred of human decency in him, valuing himself over his patients. My skin crawls thinking about how invested I was in an organization that didn’t support or protect its athletes.

Gymnasts like the ones on the 2012 and 2016 Olympic teams have won the battle against Nassar. Women have the won the fight against Nassar. They are all champions, on and off the podium.