As one of the highest-profile names in gymnastics, Maroney’s decision to go public last week generated headlines and has again shone a necessary spotlight into a very, very dark corner of the sporting world. The attacks always took place under the guise of providing medical treatment, every injury offering him his chance. He had been molesting her since she was 13-years-old and a newly-arrived neophyte at Bela Karolyi's national training camp in Texas, the ultimate destination for every ambitious gymnast in this country. Hours before fluffing her lines so spectacularly at those games, Maroney was sexually assaulted by Larry Nassar, the USA team doctor in the position for nearly three decades.
When the victorious women's team went to visit the White House a few weeks later, Maroney and President Barack Obama reprised the now infamous sneer for a picture in the Oval Office. The photograph immediately went viral and somebody dubbed it the "not impressed" face. On the podium following the presentation of medals, cameras captured the 16-year-old wearing a rueful expression, equal parts disdain, disgust and disaffection. At the 2012 Olympics in London, American gymnast McKayla Maroney was hotly favoured to take individual gold in the vault until a misjudged landing consigned her to silver.
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