McKayla Maroney Claims Larry Nassar Groomed Her With Bread Before Sexual Abuse
In a shocking new interview with NBC’s Savannah Guthrie, former US gymnast, McKayla Maroney, claimed disgraced doctor Larry Nassar gained her trust with bread — before sexually abusing her.
"I think I would've starved at the Olympics if I didn't have him bring me food," Maroney said, ahead of her Dateline interview airing Sunday.
While at the time she just thought the former physician was being kind, she now realizes he was grooming her to become his victim — like many sexual abusers do.
Maroney, 22, told Guthrie, 46, that her coaches were always watching her and her teammates to make sure they stayed “skinny” and that sometimes Nassar, 54, would “buy her a loaf of bread” and she would be so thankful.
“There’s just other things about the gymnastics culture that are also messed up, that he used against us,” added Maroney, explaining that the shamed criminal disguised himself as their friend before abusing them.
As RadarOnline.com readers know, Maroney previously claimed that Nassar sexually abused her more than 100 times over the course of their time together. Her parents even sued USA Gymnastics for failing to keep their daughter safe, after she came forward with the claims.
Other famed Olympians such as Aly Raisman, Jordyn Wieber and Simone Biles also accused Nassar of sexual abuse — as did dozens of other young women. Among other things, they claimed the former gymnastics team doctor penetrated them with his bare fingers and tricked them into thinking he was giving them treatment.
He is now serving up to 175 years in prison after pleading guilty to molesting at least 10 girls and possessing child pornography.
McKayla Maroney’s Dateline interview airs Sunday, April 22 at 7 pm ET.
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