Rio, Brazil, is buzzing with excitement as many are gathered there to experience the popular Olympic Games we enjoy every four years. One of my favorite sports to watch in the Olympics is gymnastics because it is a sport of such discipline and grace; my heart swells watching our talented young women perform. So as a person who enjoys watching gymnastics and as a woman myself, it saddened me to hear the U.S.A. Gymnastics team come under fire for sexual abuse scandals.

In gymnastics, as with many other sports, a majority (if not all) coaches tend to be male. As gymnastics naturally happens to be a sport of female domination, one can see how the absence of an authoritative female could pose a problem.

Recent investigation by the Indy Star uncovered a history of U.S.A. Gymnastics ignoring filed complaints of sexual abuse and harassment.

In the most reknowned case, a coach, William “Bill” McCabe, was allowed to remain with U.S.A. Gymnastics while many young girls suffered at his perverted hands. The organization was warned by two of McCabe’s former jobs about his tendency to prey on young girls. However, U.S.A. Gymnastics brushed off the warnings and hired the man anyway. They stated that they were awaiting an letter of official complaint from the companies, which they never received. However, even after several complaints of discomfort with this coach, McCabe continued to have his position renewed annually for seven years.

Many of the sexual misconduct allegations filed against McCabe and the other coaches, now serving time in prison, were reportedly dismissed by the organization simply because they were given by third parties. Apparently, only a complaint from a scared, young girl, who probably is not even fully aware of what is being done to her or one from an enthusiastic parent who is most likely completely oblivious to the situation, are the only complaints that are accepted by the situation.

To me, it is so sad, that this issue had to come to a lawsuit, in order for U.S.A. Gymnastics to take a stand for these amazingly talented young girls who make our country so proud. It is appalling that rape and sexual abuse are treated so indifferently in our nation, when the wounds that it causes change a young woman’s life forever.

Former U.S.A. gymnast Kaylin Brietzke broke down in an interview with talking about her experience at the age of seven with her gymnastics coach who would kiss and touch her inappropriately. She was so young that she didn’t even realize that it was sexual abuse. Now, she lives with that pain every day and it has indeed affected the way she views authoritative male figures.

When parents encourage and make provision for their children to be able to join sports, they make a true sacrifice, financially and emotionally. They spend thousands of dollars on equipment and team contributions and entrust their children to these coaches and organizations in hopes that their kids will learn valuable skills that help to further them in life, not accumulate pain that will haunt them forever.

“It doesn’t matter who you’re protecting, it doesn’t matter that they’re part of your organization and you wanna save face…how about saving me?” Brietzke said.