Former gymnast Sarah Klein was relieved when she first learned that former Olympic coach John Gadert had been charged with human trafficking and sexual assault.
Klein, who trained under Gedertt for more than a decade, says that in early 1988, when she was eight, she was “physically, verbally, emotionally and psychologically abused”. The announcement of the criminal charges on Thursday sounded like a “full circle moment”.
But shortly after, when Gaddard killed himself, Klein felt gutted.
“It simply came to our notice then. It’s shocking, “he said in an interview on Friday. “But there is no greater conviction of guilt than that of John Gadert who took his own life. It was the ultimate act of his narcissistic control, with which he lived his life and coached his gyms for decades. “
“John Gadert has always been above the law and the rules never applied to him,” he added, adding that he believes his ultimate act is “intended to insult his victims.”
Gaddart, who lives in Michigan, faced 24 charges that could have resulted in his life in prison if convicted. He was due to appear in a court in Eaton County, near Lansing, but officials said his body was found comfortably with Interstate 96.
“This is a sad story for everyone involved,” Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said Thursday afternoon.
The office fee for the Gaddafi attorney declined to comment Friday.
The allegations were the latest in a string of sexual abuse scandals that have plagued U.S. gymnastics, largely thanks to former Michigan State University sports doctor Dr. Cutter. Jeria revolves around serving a sentence of up to 175 years.
Gedert was paired with Nassar, who served as a doctor on the Olympic team and treated injured gymnasts at the East Gym in the Lansing area.
Klein, who says he was sexually assaulted by Nasser, said he had been waiting a long time for Gaddart to receive justice. He said he believes Nassar and Gaddafi have enabled each other for many years.
“There would be no Larry Nassar without John Gedard and no John Gedert without Larry Nassar,” said Klein, a Philadelphia-based attorney representing survivors of sexual abuse.
Gaddafi denied any knowledge of Nasir’s abuse of athletes.
News of Gaddart’s suicide was devastating, he said.
She feels the experience as if her legs had been cut off, not a bond.
In the absence of a criminal trial against Gaddart, Klein said he hopes both the National Gymnastics Board, USA Gymnastics, and the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) will be “taken into account.”
“What else is going to happen to us for them to say, ‘We will be transparent. We will be responsible, and we were responsible for what happened to you on our watch and we failed you. ” Klein said.
In a statement following Gaddard’s death, USA Gymnastics said: “We hoped that the news of the criminal charges against John Gaddard would be brought to justice.
“With the news of his death by suicide, we share feelings of shock, and our thoughts are with the exercise community as they cling to the complex emotions of this week’s events.”
In a separate statement, USOPC Chief Executive Sarah Hershland said: “This is the voice of the survivors that is important at this time. They continue to show bravery and strength in very difficult circumstances – including today’s events. “
Dmitry Sheikhnevich, a New Jersey-based lawyer and professor of constitutional law at John J. College of Criminal Justice, said Gedert’s suicide also investigated a possible source of information for other competent people in Nasser.
“In terms of its usefulness in this case, obviously his death is a big loss,” Shakhnevich said. “It seems clear that Nasser was the big fish here and people like Gaddafi played a lesser role. But you never know. He may succeed in telling investigators more. “
Shakhnevich said that focusing on the best of gymnasts like a laser would make them “the perfect victims for those in power in the world.”
“[The gymnasts] “Doing the right thing forces them to balance their goals and dreams,” he said. “It’s devastating.”
Klein described Gedert as “the worst human being I can imagine.”
“If I had a choice, I’d rather have sexually abused at the hands of Larry Nasser for about 17 years, than spend one more day with John Gedert.
“In my view, and I believe in the point of view of many of Gaddart’s gymnasts, what he did to us was worse and more traumatic than intruding on you almost daily digitally,” Klein said. “It simply came to our notice then. He hurt us physically. He embarrassed us. He frightened us and terrorized us in a way that would affect our entire lives. “
If you or someone you know is in an emergency, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255, text home 741741 or visit Speaking / Resources for additional resources. The national human trafficking 24-hour toll-free hotline is 1-888-373-7888. Officers who suspect people of trafficking have also been requested to contact local police.
