The Foundation for Global Sports Development delivers and supports initiatives that promote fair play, education, and the benefits of abuse-free sport for youth.
White Law PLLC was founded to provide more personalized representation to clients facing legal dilemmas. Whether you have an issue that is complex or relatively straightforward, any legal matter can have a significant impact on your life. Our team of experienced lawyers based in Okemos, Michigan, strive to deliver outstanding legal services that exceed your expectations. We utilize our extensive legal knowledge and the latest in technology to bring you effective and proven solutions to your legal issues.
With Unflinching Honesty, a Haunting Novel Confronts the USA Gymnastics Sexual Abuse Case
With Unflinching Honesty, a Haunting Novel Confronts the USA Gymnastics Sexual Abuse CaseThe Happiest Girl in the World by Alena Dillon Review _ POPSUGAR Entertainment
The Happiest Girl in the World (out April 20) is fiction, but you know what it’s based on, even if you only watch gymnastics every four years: the sexual abuse case of Larry Nassar, a doctor who abused hundreds of girls (the vast majority of them gymnasts) under the guise of treatment. The case also implicated leaders at his longtime employer, USA Gymnastics (USAG), including national team coaches Marta and Bela Karolyi and USAG president Steve Penny. The case prompted a stunning lawsuit in which over 150 survivors gave wrenching victim impact statements, leading to a 175-year prison sentence for Nassar and a complete crash-and-burn for USAG as an organization. Gymnasts including Simone Biles and Aly Raisman still do not believe the organization has fully atoned for its mishandling of the scandal and the win-at-any-cost environment that let Nassar run rampant for years.
The scandal and its fallout form the backbone of Alena Dillon’s novel, seen through the eyes of a talented young gymnast named Sera Wheeler. Sera and her best friend, Lucy, grow up head over heels for gymnastics, sharing starry-eyed dreams of winning gold, memorizing every word of Shawn Johnson’s post-Trials interview. They chase each other up the ladder of elite gymnastics and eventually ascend to the national team, decimal points away from a shot at gold
Maggie Ryan | April 20, 2021
Download View in BrowserThe Foundation for Global Sports Development delivers and supports initiatives that promote fair play, education, and the benefits of abuse-free sport for youth.
White Law PLLC was founded to provide more personalized representation to clients facing legal dilemmas. Whether you have an issue that is complex or relatively straightforward, any legal matter can have a significant impact on your life. Our team of experienced lawyers based in Okemos, Michigan, strive to deliver outstanding legal services that exceed your expectations. We utilize our extensive legal knowledge and the latest in technology to bring you effective and proven solutions to your legal issues.