McKayla Maroney has surprised fans!
The 23-year-old Olympic gold medalist gymnast shared a couple new photos on Twitter and reactivated her Instagram account on Tuesday (September 24).
“hold on tightly to what ur grateful for,” she wrote on Twitter. “caring less, doing more,” she added with the photos.
“she forced me to get back on Instagram,” McKayla captioned a video on her Instagram story.
McKayla has been fairly silent the last couple of years, as she has been focusing on herself after the trauma of the Larry Nassar abuse, which she spoke about in 2018.
McKayla Maroney has revealed that her father, Mike, has passed away.
Taking to social media, the 23-year-old athlete shared a sweet tribute to her dad.
“Love u dad. I can’t believe it’s real. I don’t want to. I’ll miss you forever,” she wrote, adding, “Rest in peace. You were the most incredible dad. â¤ï¸ðŸŒ¹.”
PHOTOS: Check out the latest pics of McKayla Maroney
McKayla‘s brother, Kav, also shared a tribute to their dad on his Instagram.
Our thoughts are with McKayla and her family during this difficult time.
McKayla Maroney was one of the many who spoke out about Larry Nassar‘s abuse while she was on the Team USA Gymnastics team, and now she’s giving her first interview about it all.
In a sneak peek of her Dateline feature, which aired on Today this morning, the 22-year-old athlete detailed how the abuse started and how it went on for years.
“He said that nobody would understand this and the sacrifice that it takes to get to the Olympics, so you can’t tell people this,†McKayla shared. “He didn’t say it in a way that was mean or anything like that.”
She adds, “I actually was like, ‘That makes sense, I don’t want to tell anybody about this.’ And I didn’t believe that they would understand.â€
McKayla‘s full interview will air during a Dateline special on Sunday, April 22nd on NBC.
McKayla Maroney is one of the many people who have accused doctor Larry Nassar of abuse and now she’s speaking out for the first time publicly.
The 22-year-old gymnast made a rare appearance while attending the New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children Luncheon on Tuesday afternoon (April 17) in New York City.
“We knew that Larry was a monster, and learning from everything that has come out, I never should have met him. The USA Gymnastics, MSU and the USOC continued to look away to protect their reputations. All they cared about was money, medals, and it didn’t seem like there was anything else,” McKayla said (via Page Six).
She added, “The cool thing about social media is that so many people at that time were speaking up. I felt like, This is my moment.â€
USA Gymnastics will not fine McKayla Maroney if she decides to speak out against her alleged abuser Larry Nassar during his sentencing hearing.
There has been an uproar after it was revealed that an NDA signed by McKayla would cause her to be fined $100,000 if she were to speak out about the abuse she experienced. Several celebs announced they would pay for the fine if the former gymnast chose to speak up.
“USA Gymnastics has not sought and will not seek any money from McKayla Maroney for her brave statements made in describing her victimization and abuse by Larry Nassar, nor for any victim impact statements she wants to make to Larry Nassar at this hearing or at any subsequent hearings related to his sentencing,” the organization told USA Today. “This has been her right and USA Gymnastics encourages McKayla and anyone who has been abused to speak out. USA Gymnastics remains focused on our highest priority – the safety, health and well-being of our athletes and creating a culture that empowers and supports them.”
Aly Raisman has taken a brave step forward and says that she was also sexually abused by former USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar.
The Olympic gymnast joins her “Fierce Five” member McKayla Maroney, who opened up about her own experiences last month.
Aly spoke to 60 Minutes, in an interview scheduled to air Sunday, that she told FBI investigators about her abuse after serving as national team captain at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
“Why are we looking at why didn’t the girls speak up? Why not look at what about the culture?” she shared. “What did USA Gymnastics do, and Larry Nassar do, to manipulate these girls so much that they are so afraid to speak up?”
Dr. Nassar is currently in jail after pleading guilty to child pornography charges – but not guilty to sexual assault. More than 130 women have filed civil lawsuits against the doctor claiming abuse.
“I am angry,” Aly adds. “I’m really upset because it’s been– I care a lot you know, when I see these young girls that come up to me, and they ask for pictures or autographs, whatever it is, I just– I can’t– every time I look at them, every time I see them smiling, I just think– I just want to create change so that they never, ever have to go through this.”
Watch a preview of Aly‘s interview below:
The Fierce Five in the 2012 summer Olympics was made up of Aly Raisman, Gabby Douglas, McKayla Maroney, Kyla Ross, and Jordyn Wieber.
Now, after McKayla has bravely come forward with allegations of repeated sexual assault against her U.S. team doctor, Dr. Larry Nassar, her former teammates are speaking out with messages of support.
“The scariest night of my life happened when I was 15 years old,” McKayla remembered in her letter. “I had flown all day and night with the team to get to Tokyo. [Dr. Nassar had] given me a sleeping pill for the flight, and the next thing I know, I was all alone with him in his hotel room getting a ‘treatment.’ I thought I was going to die that night.”
Aly was quick to support her friend.
“100% support you,” she tweeted. “SO proud of you and your strength. Love you like a sister!!” She also tweeted a picture of the two of them in a message of support.
“Heartbreaking that things like this can happen in this world,” Kyla agreed. “My heart goes out to you mac & all those affected by such tragic events.”
“So sad and heartbreaking that this happened to you Mack,” Jordyn echoed. “I’m here for you and I support you.”
In terrible cases like these, supporting the women who come forward is so important. We’re glad her teammates are speaking out.