Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

2012 Olympian McKayla Maroney Says She Was Forced To Compete With Broken Foot After Larry Nassar 'Lied'

2012 Olympian McKayla Maroney Says She Was Forced To Compete With Broken Foot After Larry Nassar 'Lied'
Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

In a series of videos posted on her Instagram story, USA Gymnast and Olympic Gold Medalist McKayla Maroney just came told the internet how she was forced to compete in the vault finals of the 2012 London Olympics with a broken foot, a broken nose, and concussion, all because team doctor--and convicted pedophile--Larry Nassar allegedly lied to the coach and claimed her foot wasn't broken.

Maroney, who decided to tell her story just as the vault finals of the Tokyo Olympics were in full swing, did go on to land what many still dub the greates vault in history, and helped push Team USA to win a gold medal.


But her admission serves as yet another addition to a long list of blemishes on USA Gymnastics' problematic history of placing competitive success over the well-being of its member athletes.

Maroney first called attention to the historic plight of gymnasts with a Tweet calling readers to learn about "how terrible it's set up for athletes."


In the Instagram videos, which were eventually reposted on Youtube, Maroney divulged the harrowing details of her injured performance.

Maroney explained that she arrived to London after hitting the back of her head so hard just two weeks prior that her nose was shattered.

Nonetheless, upon arriving to London, Team USA Gymnastics coach Márta Károlyi forced her to practice on the balance beam--an event she was not competing in--despite Maroney's concussion, busted nose, and jet lag.

"And that's when I broke my foot, on the beam, because I was dizzy as hell."
"Like, I felt terrible. I looked at my coach before my beam routine and was like, 'Really? You're going to make me get on this thing right now? I feel like s---!'' "

While practicing, Maroney shattered her sesamoid bone.

But Larry Nassar, who was sentenced to 175 years in prison for sexually assaulting hundreds of children on the USA Gymnastics team--including Maroney--told Károlyi that Maroney was only complaining about an old break that had since healed.


youtu.be


Once people on Twitter heard Maroney's account of all that happened, they were appalled.








According to Insider, President and CEO of USA Gymnastics Li Li Leung addressed Maroney's claims directly.

"We recognize how deeply we have broken the trust of our athletes and community, and are working hard to build that trust back. Everything we do now is aimed at creating a safe, inclusive, and positive culture for everyone who participates in our sport."
"And while we know that this kind of meaningful and lasting culture change does not happen overnight, we will keep working toward that goal until every member feels supported, included, safe and empowered."

More from Trending

Jenna Bush Hager
Las Culturistas/YouTube

Jenna Bush Hager Just Sounded Off On Book Bans With A Mic Drop Rant—And She's Absolutely Right

Former first daughter and current NBC TODAY show host Jenna Bush Hager recently sat down for an interview on the Las Culturistas podcast with hosts Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang. The episode was titled "More Like Read BY Jenna," a take on the Read With Jenna book club that Bush Hager created.

A popular interviewer in her own right, Bush Hager is the daughter of former Republican President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush and granddaughter of former GOP President George H. W. Bush and First Lady Barbara Bush.

Keep ReadingShow less
Donald Trump
Al Drago for The Washington Post via Getty Images

$1.8 Billion 'Anti-Weaponization' Slush Fund Totally Backfires On Trump After Republican Senators Melt Down In Contentious Meeting

A meeting between Republican senators and Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche went off the rails, dooming President Donald Trump's "Anti-Weaponization Fund" after lawmakers canceled their plans to vote on funding for immigration enforcement and the White House ballroom construction.

The Justice Department said Monday it was creating the fund as part of a deal in which Trump agreed to drop his $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS. But despite a press release, memo, and a newly-released settlement agreement, many details about the program remain unclear.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshot of John Kennedy discussing Cuba on Fox News
Fox News

MAGA Senator's Rant About Cuba's 'Incompetent' Leadership Has Everyone Thinking The Same Thing

Louisiana Republican Senator John Kennedy had everyone thinking the same thing after complaining in a Fox News interview that Cuba's "incompetent" leadership only knows how to "oppress people."

Kennedy made the remarks after federal prosecutors in the United States announced charges against former Cuban President Raúl Castro over the 1996 shootdown of aircraft operated by the Miami-based exile group Brothers to the Rescue.

Keep ReadingShow less
Donald Trump
Mark Mirko/Connecticut Public via Getty Images

Trump's Commencement Speech Claim That The U.S. Is 'Hot' Right Now Turns Into Hilariously Brutal Self-Own

President Donald Trump's attempt to smear the Biden administration turned into a self-own while he spoke at the commencement ceremony for the U.S. Coast Guard Academy this week.

Trump spoke as several hundred protesters gathered outside Coast Guard Academy campus in New London, Connecticut. During the nearly hour-long address to cadets and their families, he alternated between praising the graduating class of 2026 and revisiting familiar themes about what he described as the country’s recovery after a period of decline.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshots from @tiktoktimmay8's TikTok video
@tiktoktimmay8/TikTok

Dad Brutally Reviews Perfumes During Daughter's Birthday Party At Ulta In Hilarious Viral TikTok

For those who did not know, having a birthday party at Ulta Beauty is now a possibility. Complete with skincare sessions, mini-makeovers, discounts, and goodie bags, it's kind of perfect for teens and tweens who are enthusiastic about makeup and skincare.

But while the birthday party is going on, what is a bored parent to do?

Keep ReadingShow less