Athlete A (A- or 3.5/4 stars)
'Athlete A' (directed by Bonni Cohen & Jon Shenk) is an illuminating documentary that tells the story of the brave female gymnasts & astute newspaper reporters who helped bring monstrous Larry Nassar to justice for the sexual abuse of hundreds of young gymnasts. As team doctor for USA Gymnastics (from the 1990s-recently), Nassar violated these gymnasts under the pretense of protocolled exams or treating nagging injuries and, when gymnasts spoke out, their concerns were covered up by an organization more concerned with winning gold medals & 'selling the brand' of wholesome, all-American athletes to sponsors than with the health, well-being & safety of their young athletes. I love the Olympics. I love Gymnastics. But boy, is this awful.
The title "Athlete A" is in reference to Maggie Nichols, a wonderful gymnast who was a rising star in USAG but was dropped from the 2016 Olympic team - not necessarily because an injury kept her from being 100% - for reporting Larry Nassar's abuse one whole year prior in '15. Around this time, journalists from the Indianapolis Star started looking into claims against Nassar & how USAG encouraged a policy of NOT reporting allegations when gymnasts & their parents craved answers. As more gymnasts spoke out to reporters, criminal investigations began and, we see how Nassar's abuse was part of a sprawling, toxic culture in which coaches beloved by the media were physically & verbally abusive ... and officials just looked the other way.
While the horrifying story of how USA Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar sexually abused hundreds of young gymnasts is widely known, this documentary adeptly juggles several other moving parts, including: the ruthless nature of training {we see Romania & Russia at work} & the sad aftermath of 'speaking out'. As the central story of young gymnasts like aforementioned Maggie Nichols, Rachael Denhollander, Jessica Howard, 2000 Olympian Jamie Dantzscher, Jeanette Antolin, Simone Biles &other high profile athletes, as well as Nichols' parents calling for answers, unfolds ... 'Athlete A' ably balances the momentum of that story with back story & context. One of the big takeaways is the shocking lengths coaches {like world-famous Bela & Marta Karolyi} & officials {such as USAG PRESIDENT Steve Penny} went to, enabling the abuse in the interests of maintaining USAG's squeaky-clean image for lucrative sponsor deals. Ugh.
But this is also an incredible story of bravery & unity, as 'Athlete A' shows the immense risks these women took & the great sacrifices they made in bringing Nassar's abuse & the toxicity/complicity of USA gymnastics to worldwide light. 'Athlete A' also reminds us of the utter importance & absolute necessity of dedicated journalists & the revelatory work they do. And like all the best sports docs, this one forces us to examine the culture of submission in gymnastics, as well as showing an organization could become SO obsessed with being #1 & getting sponsors that all principles of fundamental human decency were cast aside. It's an often maddening, disturbing, yet triumphant {in the end} watch, and yet, at 103 min. in length, I even wanted more.
The title "Athlete A" is in reference to Maggie Nichols, a wonderful gymnast who was a rising star in USAG but was dropped from the 2016 Olympic team - not necessarily because an injury kept her from being 100% - for reporting Larry Nassar's abuse one whole year prior in '15. Around this time, journalists from the Indianapolis Star started looking into claims against Nassar & how USAG encouraged a policy of NOT reporting allegations when gymnasts & their parents craved answers. As more gymnasts spoke out to reporters, criminal investigations began and, we see how Nassar's abuse was part of a sprawling, toxic culture in which coaches beloved by the media were physically & verbally abusive ... and officials just looked the other way.
While the horrifying story of how USA Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar sexually abused hundreds of young gymnasts is widely known, this documentary adeptly juggles several other moving parts, including: the ruthless nature of training {we see Romania & Russia at work} & the sad aftermath of 'speaking out'. As the central story of young gymnasts like aforementioned Maggie Nichols, Rachael Denhollander, Jessica Howard, 2000 Olympian Jamie Dantzscher, Jeanette Antolin, Simone Biles &other high profile athletes, as well as Nichols' parents calling for answers, unfolds ... 'Athlete A' ably balances the momentum of that story with back story & context. One of the big takeaways is the shocking lengths coaches {like world-famous Bela & Marta Karolyi} & officials {such as USAG PRESIDENT Steve Penny} went to, enabling the abuse in the interests of maintaining USAG's squeaky-clean image for lucrative sponsor deals. Ugh.
But this is also an incredible story of bravery & unity, as 'Athlete A' shows the immense risks these women took & the great sacrifices they made in bringing Nassar's abuse & the toxicity/complicity of USA gymnastics to worldwide light. 'Athlete A' also reminds us of the utter importance & absolute necessity of dedicated journalists & the revelatory work they do. And like all the best sports docs, this one forces us to examine the culture of submission in gymnastics, as well as showing an organization could become SO obsessed with being #1 & getting sponsors that all principles of fundamental human decency were cast aside. It's an often maddening, disturbing, yet triumphant {in the end} watch, and yet, at 103 min. in length, I even wanted more.