Following today’s announcement of the $380 million settlement between USA Gymnastics, the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee and hundreds of survivors, The Army of Survivors has issued the following statement.

As a non-profit organization founded by survivors of Larry Nassar, we are pleased that this long and dark chapter has come to an end, and as such may help provide closure to hundreds of survivors. 

Although no settlement amount will make up for the abuse that so many endured, this is a step toward healing. USA Gymnastics and the USOPC have long held the stance that their organizations should not be held responsible for Nassar’s abuse; this settlement serves as part of the necessary accountability of the complicity of USA Gymnastics and the USOPC. 

The Army of Survivors is particularly encouraged by the non-monetary terms in the settlement, which include board seats for survivors and enhanced policies around abuse in the sport. Policy reform has long been a request of survivors to ensure no child athlete has to suffer abuse again. Although there is still a way to go for new safety policies to be created and implemented, this settlement term is a step in the right direction, especially if survivors’ voices will be at the center of the conversations. 

“We are thankful that survivors can receive some closure today as this civil suit comes to a close,” said Grace French, President and Founder of The Army of Survivors. “It’s an incredible feeling when survivor voices are finally heard. The significant non-monetary commitments from USAG and USOPC give me hope that these institutions will work to make courageous changes to the way they interact with athletes, and I hope that they center survivor and athlete voices within that work. Now is the time to show the world what the gold-standard safeguarding and athlete-welfare programming can look like.”