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For decades, Larry Nassar was the doctor for the women’s Olympic Gymnastics team and also treated athletes at Michigan State University. He was the go-to practitioner for sports related injuries but saw many women and girls outside of the sport as well.

Rachael Denhollander was a teenager when she went to see Larry Nassar for treatment. She had been a gymnast as a child, and she and her mother believed Nassar would be giving her pelvic floor therapy for an injury. They soon realised this was not the case, but felt unable to challenge someone who was so revered by the sports establishment.

Sixteen years passed before Rachael saw an article investigating USA gymnastics and reports of abuse by its coaches. She made the decision then to come forward publicly with her experience of sexual abuse, putting herself in the public eye and making herself a target of hate and disgust from people who believed Dr Nassar’s denials.

But within weeks, more women were coming forward with similar allegations, and two years later, Dr Nassar was brought to trial, ending up with a sentence of 175 years for his crimes.

Mike Wooldridge hears how Rachael’s decision to do the right thing and publicly tell her story, at great personal cost, led to over 200 women revealing abuse by Larry Nassar. He finds out how her Christian faith was challenged as the story and trial became international news, how she decided to forgive her abuser and how she now works with survivors of sexual abuse in churches in the USA.

A CTVC production.

This programme contains references to sexual abuse which some listeners may find upsetting. If you are affected by anything you hear in this programme, it’s important to talk to someone about it and get support. Talking can help to see a way through things – whether this is with a family member, friends, a doctor, or a support organisation. You can find help by visiting the Befrienders Worldwide website: www.befrienders.org’