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Around 2 decades ago I remember watching @Dmoceanu speak out at great personal cost. I remember the horrible things that were said, and sharply replying "I don't think we know the full story. I think she's telling the truth, the cost is way too high to lie."
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And thinking "no one puts themselves through this unless it's so much worse than they even say at first." And that cemented my resolve that she was my favorite gymnast.
Years later, I saw @dantzscher eviscerated for telling the truth about the Karolyi Ranch. . .
Years later, I saw @dantzscher eviscerated for telling the truth about the Karolyi Ranch. . .
They said the same things about her that they'd said about Dominique. Because they both spoke up with so much courage, they were my favorite gymnasts from that moment on. I remember telling people "You're wrong. They aren't lying, the cost is way too high. Something is wrong."
What I didn't know then was that our paths would cross over a decade later.
Because Dominique spoke up at such a great cost, when Jamie realized what Larry was doing, she knew Dominique was the one person who might believer her.
Because Dominique spoke up at such a great cost, when Jamie realized what Larry was doing, she knew Dominique was the one person who might believer her.
Just a few weeks before I contacted the IndyStar, Jamie told Dominique who Larry really was. And she was believed, and encouraged to speak out and stop him.
Just a few days after I contacted the IndyStar to go on record, Jamie's attorney @johnmanly reached out to them too.
Just a few days after I contacted the IndyStar to go on record, Jamie's attorney @johnmanly reached out to them too.
Because of Dominique and Jamie, my story wasn't alone when the newspaper ran, and I could tell Dt. Munford "I know there's at least one more", even though no one knew who yet.
2yrs later - 3 yrs ago today, on a bitter Michigan morning, walking to the Lansing courthouse, I heard someone calling my name from far away. Dominique and her husband Mike had traveled all the way from their home to be in court with us that day.
They came because they knew so personally the cost of speaking up. They took the time to stand with us, because no one had stood with Dominique.
Dominique's choice, decades before, to do what was right at great personal cost, is why Jaime had a safe place to tell.
Dominique's choice, decades before, to do what was right at great personal cost, is why Jaime had a safe place to tell.
And because Jaime had a safe place to tell, my story wasn't alone. And because we weren't alone, the truth came out, and hundreds spoke up.
It took more than two decades before the real fruit of Dominique's choice to speak the truth no matter what it cost, began to really be seen on a national level. But her choice set the stage to change the world.
So every year on this anniversary of the day I met my childhood hero (and very weirdly, she knew who I was
) I remember to never, ever underestimate the impact of the choice to do what is right.
) I remember to never, ever underestimate the impact of the choice to do what is right.
You may never know the changes your choice will set in motion, it may take decades to see, or you might never see it at all, but these are the decisions that set the trajectory of our lives and determine who we will become, and how safe we will be.
I'm so thankful Dominique stood up more than 20 years ago, because it set the stage for hundreds to stand up, decades later.
And you still owe her one *@&)*&@ of an apology @USAGym .
And you still owe her one *@&)*&@ of an apology @USAGym .
