At the Heart of Gold: Inside the USA Gymnastics Scandal
By Melissa Camacho,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Powerful docu about enabling and surviving sexual abuse.
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At the Heart of Gold: Inside the USA Gymnastics Scandal
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What's the Story?
AT THE HEART OF GOLD: INSIDE THE USA GYMNASTICS SCANDAL examines the events leading up to one of the largest sexual abuse scandals in American history. In 2016, after an ongoing investigation into USA Gymnastics (USAG) was published by the Indianapolis Star, Michigan State University sports physician and Women's National Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar was arrested, and eventually sentenced to life, for sexually abusing young female athletes and other children for over 20 years. Through a combination of interviews and courtroom footage of victim impact statements, some of the 300+ young survivors share their stories. Additional interviews with former athletes, coaches, attorneys, journalists, and advocates reveal how MSU and USAG systematically put their athletic programs ahead of the well-being of their athletes, and created a culture that enabled Nassar to successfully carry out these crimes. It's a difficult and complicated story, but one that never loses sight of the strength and courage of the women who came forward.
Is It Any Good?
The powerful documentary gives a voice to the survivors of Dr. Nassar's sexual abuse, many of whom endured his assaults for years without fully understanding what was happening to them. It reveals how easily the serial pedophile was able to manipulate the often-abusive gymnastics training culture in order to foster a sense of trust among the young, sexually inexperienced athletes. He was then able to groom them (and often their unwitting parents and other adults) into accepting his invasive "treatments" as legitimate medical procedures. It also shines a harsh spotlight on MSU and USAG, underscoring the damage caused by sports institutions that systematically prioritize making money and gaining prestige off of athlete success, while protecting their own interests at any cost. But At The Heart of Gold never allows the audience to forget the women, among them young high school students, mothers, and Olympic medalists, who publicly shared their stories despite their right to remain anonymous, in order to fight back, reclaim their lives, and end the cycle of abuse in their sport.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the reasons survivors agreed to share their stories for At The Heart of Gold. Why is this courageous? What do their stories teach us?
How has sexual misconduct been treated in popular media over the years? Have media conversations and representations of abusive sexual behavior become better or worse since the #MeToo movement?
There are lots of conversations about sexual misconduct in the news and through documentaries like this one. What are some ways adults can explain what is happening to young children when they know little about sex? How can the subject be constructively approached with teens and tweens? Check out some books that might help them understand more about these issues.
TV Details
- Premiere date: May 3, 2019
- Cast: Trinea Gonczar, Larissa Boyce, Rosemarie Aquilina
- Network: HBO
- Genre: Reality TV
- TV rating: TV-MA
- Last updated: February 27, 2022
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