A decade after Larry Nassar was sentenced to up to 175 years in prison for sexually abusing more than 250 women and girls, calls for meaningful reforms in sports governance and athlete safety continue to grow. Nassar, the former USA Gymnastics team doctor, was convicted in 2018, but concerns remain over the limited progress made since the widespread abuses came to light.

Judge Rosemarie Aquilina, who presided over Nassar’s sentencing and heard 169 impact statements from survivors, spoke out during the World Gymnastics Championships in Rotterdam. She criticized the lack of substantial change in protecting athletes, stating that human rights must take precedence over financial gain, medals, and fame. “We’re just not there yet, not in sports, not in life, not in the courtroom, not in the classroom or in the legislature,” Aquilina said, emphasizing that safety is a fundamental human right that remains inadequately prioritized.

The event also brought together activists, survivors, and advocates from Gymnasts for Change International (G4CI), who reflected on the insufficient reforms implemented since the scandal. Claire Heafford, a survivor of abuse within the sport and the chief executive of G4CI, remarked that survivors’ voices are still not being fully heard and that reform efforts have not matched the magnitude of the revelations.

Heafford attributed the resistance to change in part to “institutional fear” and a narrow mindset within sports organizations, which she described as lacking creativity when it comes to addressing abuse and creating safer environments. She remarked on the difficulties faced by those within the system who seek to initiate reforms, suggesting that entrenched interests impede meaningful progress.

The discussion underscores ongoing challenges in safeguarding athletes and preventing abuse in sports, highlighting a persistent tension between maintaining competitive success and enforcing rigorous protections. Despite heightened awareness following the Nassar case, advocates continue to push for comprehensive structural and cultural changes to ensure the safety and dignity of all participants in sports.