This agreement, confirmed at a hearing in federal bankruptcy court in Indianapolis, ends a five-year legal battle.

Larry Nassar, 58, is serving a life sentence after being heavily convicted in 2017 and 2018 for sexually assaulting more than 250 mostly minor gymnasts over two decades while working for USA Gymnastic, but also at Michigan State University and at a gymnastics club.

The compensation that will be paid is one of the largest ever awarded to victims of sexual assault, after the $ 500 million that Michigan State University pledged to settle in 2018, after concluding a compensation agreement with more than 300 victims.

Far more famous, Olympic gold medalists Simone Biles, Aly Raisman and McKayla Maroney testified at a Senate hearing in September.

She had not only described the abuse suffered, but also blamed officials of the American Gymnastics Federation, USOPC and Federal Police (FBI) for inaction to prevent sexual assault by the ex-doctor.

A penal chapter to write

US gymnasts Aly Raisman (right) and Maggie Nichols are sworn in during a US Senate hearing in connection with the Larry Nassar scandal, in Washington on September 15, 2021 SAUL LOEB POOL / AFP / Archives

"This historic deal ends another chapter in the Larry Nassar scandal. Survivors have now received a total of $ 880 million in compensation for their pain and suffering at the hands of this monster, with institutions that have left it behind. do, "responded John C. Manly, senior lawyer representing victims.

"There is still one chapter to write, the criminal prosecution of FBI agents who failed to investigate and arrest Nassar, as well as USA Gymnastics and USOPC members who conspired with them to obstruct the investigation, ”concluded John Manly.

Rachael Denhollander, the first woman to publicly accuse Nassar in 2016, welcomed the deal.

"This chapter is finally closed. Now the hard work of reform and reconstruction can begin. Whether justice is done or not and change is made depends on what happens next."

FBI Director Christopher Wray (right) and US Department of Justice Inspector General Michael Horowitz (left) take an oath during the Senate hearing in Washington on September 15, 2021 SAUL LOEB POOL / AFP / Archives

The American Gymnastics Federation filed for bankruptcy in 2018, drowned by a huge number of lawsuits brought by the victims of Nassar.

According to the WSJ, Monday's deal could be reached after insurance company TIG agreed to pay a "substantial portion" of the compensation.

The deal includes a $ 34 million payment directly from the USOPC, as well as a $ 6 million loan from the USOPC to USA Gymnastics.

Finally, as part of the agreement, a victim of these sexual assaults will be appointed to the board of directors of the American Gymnastics Federation.

© 2021 AFP