There is no timetable, or any kind of “too late”, when it comes to being abused – and gymnasts Kyla Ross and Madison Kocian are learning that.
The gymnasts – both members of the UCLA Gymnastics team, Final Five and Fierce Five Olympic teams – have come forward with their own stories of being abused by former team physician Larry Nassar.
While it took months for them to process what happened to them, Kyla and Madison are sending a message to victims of sexual abuse everywhere that it’s never too late to speak up.
“Everyone copes in their own way,” Kyla shared with AP. “It doesn’t matter how old you are and what happens to you. I’ve come to the point in my life this is something I want to share my story and move on.”
Madison added that the culture around the elite program was partly to blame.
“You live under a fear of not being able to speak up because this was our only avenue to accomplish our dreams and make the Olympic team,” she said.
All five members of the 2012 Olympic team — Kyla, Jordyn Wieber, Aly Raisman, Gabby Douglas and McKayla Maroney — have revealed they were abused by Nassar. Madison is the fourth member of the 2016 Olympic team to come forward, joining Aly, Gabby, and Simone Biles.
Simone Biles, Aly Raisman, Madison Kocian, Laurie Hernandez and Gabby Douglas just received a huge honor, a year after their historic Olympics win!
Over the weekend, the ladies of the Final Five were inducted into the Gymnastics Hall Of Fame!
Simone, Aly, Laurie and Madison all headed to a ceremony to accept their honor. It sounds like Gabby wasn’t in attendance because she’s already been inducted!
“USA Gymnastics Hall Of Fame 2017 | honored to be inducted with these girls, love yall,” Simone wrote on her Instagram.
Laurie added, “it was such an honor to be inducted into the hall of fame with these incredible girls. all glory to God.”
Check out their cute selfie from the event below…
Exactly one year ago today the Final Five — Simone Biles, Gabby Douglas, Laurie Hernandez, Aly Raisman, and Madison Kocian — won a team gold at the 2016 summer Olympics.
“Time flies,” Simone tweeted with a series of images of the girls posing with their gold medals and waving to the crowd, “A year ago today we won team gold. Final Five. My heart.”
We remember it like it was yesterday. Congratulations to all of you! We’re counting down the days until the 2020 Olympics (so far we’re at three years.)
Simone Biles just hams it up with Aly Raisman by her side for the cameras while arriving at the 2017 ESPY Awards held at Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on Wednesday (July 12).
The two Final Five team mates met up with Laurie Hernandez, Gabby Douglas and Madison Kocian at the event after walking the red carpet together.
PHOTOS: Check out the latest pics of Simone Biles
2008 All-Around champion Nastia Liukin was also at the event, with her hunky fiance Matt Lombardi.
FYI: Simone is wearing an Alexis Monsanto dress. Aly is wearing a Pamella Roland dress. Nastia wore a red Zachary the Label dress with stunning Kimberly McDonald earrings.
20+ pics inside of Simone Biles, Aly Raisman and Nastia Liukin inside…
The Final Five have made it to the 2017 Golden Globe Awards!
Simone Biles, Aly Raisman and Madison Kocian glammed up for the annual event, where they attended alongside Aly‘s boyfriend Colton Underwood and men’s gymanstics team member Danell Levya (not pictured).
PHOTOS: Check out the latest pics of Simone Biles
Madison joined Aly and Simone just after competing in her first UCLA meet along with Fierce Five member Kyla Ross. The two became the first Olympians with gold medals to compete collegiately.
FYI: Aly wore a gorgeous, custom Rita Vinieris gown. Madison wore a Faviana gown.
2016 is coming to a close, and with that comes list after list of bests �- the best actors, the best singers, the best emerging talent of the year.
But, let’s face it, there have been some seriously weird/sad/random moments moments that had they not existed, the celebrity entertainment world would definitely be a better place.
The following sucks irrefutably fall in to 2016′s con column.
Here are a smattering of this year’s happenings that we most wish we could take back:
1. The bitterness that followed Fifth Harmony losing Camila Cabello
Feelings were hurt all around when Camila Cabello decided to leave Fifth Harmony, but the public accusations that followed had Harmonizers taking sides. Understandably disappointed Lauren Jauregui, Ally Brooke, Dinah Jane and Normani Kordei put out a public statement before Camila had the chance to make the announcement herself. Camila said she was shocked at the move and released her own statement, which gave a brief version of her side of the story… and it kept going. The 5H split wasn’t totally shocking — after all, both Camila and Lauren were both publicly working on side projects — but we hope that time can heal the wounds between these former besties.
2. Austin & Ally ending
January 10 marked a rocky start to the New Year with everyone’s favorite Disney Channel coupleAustin & Ally — aka Laura Marano and Ross Lynch — gracing our screens one last time. The show’s exit left a gaping void in our lives that has yet to be filled by any amount of ice-cream or Hannah Montana reruns.
From stars being attacked to boyfriend disasters, see eight other fails that made 2016 bad…
More Here! »
How wonderful do the Final Five gymnasts look at the 2016 CMA Awards in Nashville tonight?!
Simone Biles, Aly Raisman, Gabby Douglas, Laurie Hernandez, and Madison Kocian all took a break from the Kellogg’s Tour for the big show.
PHOTOS: Check out the latest pics of Simone Biles
During the show tonight, Simone, Laurie, Aly, Gabby and Madison will be presenting an award. Can’t wait to see them!
FYI: Laurie wore a Tadashi Shoji dress and Csarite Fine Jewelry by Erica Courtney earrings. Gabby wore a Rubin Singer gown.
Check out 15+ pics of the Final Five inside…
