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Simone Biles: “No other athlete will ever have to experience the horror of abuse”

Simone Biles
Simone Biles
Simone Biles
Simone Biles
Simone Biles
Simone Biles
Simone Biles
Simone Biles
Simone Biles
Simone Biles
Simone Biles

If you have seen the Netflix documentary “Athlete A” you will already be aware of the abuses perpetrated by Dr. Larry Nassar on the gymnasts of the American team, as well as the toxic culture that allowed this to go on without consequences (for Larry, certainly not for the athletes) for many years. Yesterday, the artistic gymnastics champion Simone Biles, 24, spoke in front of the Senate, recalling that the faults are also and above all of the FBI, which for a long time has turned away, despite having been made aware of the facts.

BEING SEXUAL ABUSE LIKE SIMONE BILES, THE PSYCHOLOGIST SPEAKS

In Washington, Simone Biles has bravely spoken before the Senate Justice Committee, highlighting the passivity of the FBI, which has long stood still despite knowing of thejournalistic investigation clearly attesting to sexual abuse by Larry Nassar, now sentenced to 176 years in prison for harassing about 500 athletes of the US national team. “To be clear, I blame Larry Nasser, but also the whole system that allowed him to continue abusing us”said Simone Biles, struggling to fight back tears. As he remembers Elena Benvenuti, psychologist and psychotherapist, “It is unthinkable to erase from memory the sexual abuses suffered, however much a person may try to isolate the memories and create a break with the past. They remain within themselves, under the skin and always ready to return in the form of nightmares if not addressed. For this reason it is very important to find the strength (and it takes a lot) to open up with a good professional and / or with a loved one whom you trust blindly. Keeping such a burden to oneself risks becoming a real boomerang, making the abuse victim feel guilty, wrong, dirty, collapsing his self-esteem and destroying any trust in the male gender, in emotional, love and sexual relationships. Try to elaborate such memories, although very painful, it is a necessary path to be able to live a life as peaceful as possible.The goal should never be to erase the trauma: our natural psychological defense mechanisms take care of that. The goal should be to be able to incorporate that memory, however traumatic and tearing, to the extreme of drawing even positive details from it on who you have become, on what you have managed to overcome by relying on your strength and sensitivity. I add that these acts of public justice help all women and, more generally, are essential to encourage the many people who have been abused and who have not reported to do so now. It is NEVER too late to use your voice».

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