The first gymnast to come forward with sexual assault allegations against disgraced doctor Larry Nassar has received a standing ovation in court after the judge in the case delivered a moving tribute to her courage.
Judge Rosemarie Aquilina told Nassar on Wednesday he would spend up to 175 years in jail — on top of a 60-year sentence he received earlier for child pornography charges.
Nassar, 54, pleaded guilty in November to seven counts of first-degree sexual assault in Ingham County, as well as three additional charges in Eaton County, where he will be sentenced next week.
Rachael Denhollander was the last victim to testify on Wednesday, saying Nassar began abusing her in 2000 when she was a 15-year-old gymnast.
She was the first to come forward about the abuse, reporting him to Michigan State University police in 2016 and telling her story to the Indianapolis Star.
She told the court: "As we were being sexually violated, Larry was sexually aroused by our humiliation,”
In response to her testimony, Judge Aquilina said: "I want you to know that your words are the right words — you didn't just build a file, you built an army of survivors and you are a five-star general.
"Your demands for accountability and change are happening. Your words, your army, tells the world that these girls ... are worth something, that they have a voice."
She later added: "You started a tidal wave. You made all of this happen. You made all of these voices matter. Your sister survivors and I thank you. You are the bravest person I have ever had in my courtroom."
The sentencing of the former physician, who began serving as the doctor with the US national gymnastics squad in 1996 was the latest development in one of the worst scandals to hit US sport in decades.
Dozens of young women and girls claimed senior officials failed to protect them and had ignored evidence of Nassar’s actions.
