On Friday, Aly Raisman, the American gymnast who is a six-time Olympic medalist and the second most-decorated female American Olympic gymnast, confronted her tormentor, Larry Nassar, the former USA Gymnastics doctor who is accused of molesting numerous young girls during his tenure, at his sentencing hearing in court, and her blistering statement elicited applause from those in attendance.

Raisman had revealed in November that Nassar had abused her when he was the team doctor. Raisman admitted she was “scared and nervous” to be making a statement but realized after watching other survivors of Nassar’s abuse that she “needed to be here.” Raisman ripped Nassar for the horrific abuse he inflicted on the numerous girls he abused, and also slammed USA Gymnastics and the U.S. Olympic Committee, which had put Nassar on advisory boards and committees, and also refused to address the problem years ago, when some of the survivors began speaking out.

Raisman also targeted USA Gymnastics’ CEO Kerry Perry for resorting to rhetoric rather than action, adding, “This sounds great, Ms. Perry, but at this point, talk is cheap.” Near the end of her statement, Raisman asked for the judge to impose “the strongest possible sentence, which his actions deserve.” She continued:

For by doing so, you will send a message to him and to other abusers that they cannot get away with their horrible crimes. They will be exposed for the evil they are and they will be punished to the maximum extent of the law. Let this sentence strike fear in anyone who thinks it is okay to hurt another person. Abusers, your time is up. The survivors are here, standing tall, and we are not going anywhere. And please, your Honor, stress the need to investigate how this happened, so that we can hold accountable those who empowered and enabled Larry Nassar, so that we can repair and once again believe in this wonderful sport.

(Read more from “Watch: Aly Raisman’s Blistering Testimony Against Former U.S. Gymnastics Team Doctor Accused of Sexual Abuse” HERE)

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