Olympic champion and outspoken Nassar survivor Aly Raisman took to Twitter this week to protest USA Gymnastics' appointment of Tracy, owner of Cincinnati Gymnastics Academy in Fairfield, to Elite Development Coordinator.
Raisman said Tracy “supported” Nassar, the former US Gymnastics doctor accused of molesting at least 250 girls dating back to 1992.
USA Gymnastics has appointed someone who, in my view, supported Nassar, victim-shamed survivors, & has shown no willingness to learn from the past. This is a slap in the face for survivors, & further confirmation that nothing at @USAG has changed. What a profound disappointment! https://t.co/lklLiqsOCJ
— Alexandra Raisman (@Aly_Raisman) August 29, 2018
Others have since joined in criticizing Tracy on Twitter:
Choosing Mary Lee Tracy is a giant step backwards for USAG. I wouldn’t allow her anywhere near young women’s development or self esteem with a 20 foot pole. https://t.co/ndvJPi2fSm
— Alyssa Beckerman (@AlyssaBeckerman) August 29, 2018
Mary Lee Tracy is one of the most controlling, domineering coaches I have ever met. At USAG sanctioned events and camps, at least one of her athletes was abused by Larry Nassar. She supported him even when it was very clear that she shouldn’t. This is maddening. https://t.co/AxckLD7VEl
— Chelsea Kroll Williams (@chels327) August 29, 2018
Mary Lee Tracy, USAG’s new elite program director was a Nassar defender. Read her glowing comments about him in this article. We represent one of her former athletes brutally molested by Nassar. This is who USAG picks?? Decertification now! https://t.co/UFYkQrczEF
— john manly (@johnmanly) August 28, 2018
Tracy told Journal-News media partner WCPO in a December 2016 interview that Nassar, since sentenced to decades in prison on sex charges, had treated some gymnasts who trained at her Fairfield gym. But Tracy said Nassar had never worked there.
At the time of the interview, Tracy's gymnasts couldn’t believe the accusations against Nassar, Tracy said.
“My Olympians have all worked with Larry. We were all defending him because he has helped so many kids in their careers. He has protected them, taken care of them, worked with me and worked with their parents. He’s been amazing,” Tracy told WCPO at the time.
Tracy coached Amanda Borden of Cincinnati and Jaycie Phelps of Greenfield, Ind., to the gold-medal winning 1996 Olympic Team, known as the “Magnificent Seven.” Tracy was one of the coaches of that Olympic team.
Another gymnastics coach convicted of sex crimes, Ray Adams, did work at Cincinnati Gymnastics in the early 2000s, Tracy told WCPO.
Adams, who was found guilty of multiple sex crimes against children, coached gymnastics for 20 years in four different states, the Indianapolis Star reported. Adams was accused of molesting gymnasts and taking inappropriate photos of children at most of the 12 gyms where he worked.
Tracy said she didn't do a background check on Adams or other applicants at the time, but she does now.
"In 2000, people didn't do (background checks) as often," Tracy told WCPO. "Now, USA Gymnastics requires a background check even to become a member. And now we do background check on everyone. Back then I never really felt a need to. I wish I would have."
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