For a state well known for highlighting its achievements, there’s no doubt that one sight near Huntsville was a definitive point of pride. The famous Karolyi Ranch has been perhaps the most famous gymnastics training site on the planet for over 35 years. Each Quadrennium, Texans would regularly watch news reports from the secluded ranch, featuring interviews from a group of young ladies destined to rule the summer Olympics.
But within that secluded space, Texans did not know the horrors which occurred away from the glare of the cameras. In the wake of long-time USA Gymnastics Team Doctor Larry Nassar being sentenced to prison for the sexual molestation of nearly 200 girls, the ranch itself is now coming under heavy scrutiny. Here’s more on that from Ayan Mittra and Emma Platoff of the Texas Tribune…
Nearly a week after prominent USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar was sentenced to prison for the sexual assault of several female gymnasts, Gov. Greg Abbott has asked the Texas Rangers to investigate misconduct allegations at the famed Karolyi Ranch, the U.S. Olympic training facility in southeast Texas, north of Houston, where Nassar treated athletes.
“The public statements made by athletes who previously trained at the Karolyi Ranch are gut-wrenching,” Abbott said in a statement Tuesday. “Those athletes, as well as all Texans, deserve to know that no stone is left unturned to ensure that the allegations are thoroughly vetted and the perpetrators and enablers of any such misconduct are brought to justice. The people of Texas demand, and the victims deserve, nothing less.”
The Governor is adding some major state resources to look into matters at the site. As Cody Stark of the Huntsville Item reports, they may have reason for this thanks to the work of local officials that were getting close to filing charges…
Local charges are still a possibility for a disgraced sports medicine doctor who was sentenced to decades in prison this past week for sexually assaulting more than 100 female athletes over the years, some of which reportedly took place at the USA Gymnastics National Training Center in Walker County.
Sheriff Clint McRae said Friday that his office had an ongoing open investigation into alleged criminal activity by Larry Nassar at the Karolyi Ranch in southeast Walker County. He did not comment on specifics of the case.
“This is an open investigation, but I cannot comment any further on what type of investigation it is at this time,” McRae said last week. “We are gathering information in anticipation that more charges could be pending.”
As of last week, the United States Olympic Committee has officially ended all training activity at the ranch, and with famed coaches Bella and Marta Karolyi. With now multiple investigations under way, more news is likely.