Content warning: This article contains references to sexual abuse and child pornography. 

To take down a monster, you need several brave heroes. Those heroes: the “Fierce Five.”

Under the bright lights of the London 2012 Summer Olympics, five extraordinary athletes won not only gold medals but also the hearts of everyone around them. 

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The 2012 United States women’s gymnastics team — also known as the Fierce Five — consisted of Gabby Douglas, Aly Raisman, Jordyn Wieber, McKayla Maroney and Kyla Ross. The team made gymnastics history when it earned the first gold medal for U.S. women’s gymnastics since the 1996 Olympics.

The Fierce Five won the gold medal in the team competition with a total score of 183.596, placing them considerably ahead of the second-place Russian team. With this triumph, the U.S. won its first gold medal as a team in women’s gymnastics since the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.

The team also collected several individual achievements. Raisman participated in the floor exercise and the individual balance beam, winning gold and bronze respectively. In the individual vault event, Maroney took home the silver medal. Douglas won the all-around Olympic gold medal, becoming the first Black American to do so in women’s gymnastics. 

However, the Fierce Five are more than just historic gymnasts; they are more than athletes. 

Their impact extends beyond the gymnastics ring as each member has become a powerful advocate for women’s rights, sexual abuse and social change, inspiring young gymnasts and girls everywhere.

The infamous Larry Nassar case is at the forefront of this advocacy. The case centers around the sexual abuse scandal involving former Michigan State University physician and USA Gymnastics national team doctor Larry Nassar. At least 265 young female athletes were sexually abused by Nassar when receiving medical care, frequently during tests or therapy sessions.

The media attention around the case began to grow in 2017 after a number of former gymnasts, including Maroney and Wieber, made accusations against Nassar. Raisman also bravely spoke out as a voice for survivors against Nassar, calling for responsibility and structural reform within USA Gymnastics. She advocated for further protections against abuse and promoted the rights of athletes through speeches, media appearances and legislative action. 

Due to the perseverance and courage of members of the Fierce Five, more and more victims from both USA Gymnastics and Michigan State felt empowered to come forward and report their experiences of abuse from Nassar.

In 2017, as a result of more than 150 survivor testimonies, Nassar was found guilty on seven counts of felony criminal sexual conduct in the first degree. For his offenses, he was sentenced to 40 to 175 years in prison by Judge Rosemarie Aquilina in Michigan. 

Consequently, USA Gymnastics and Michigan State University came under intense scrutiny due to their negligence and inadequate response to abuse claims. The case also spurred discussions on the larger problem of sexual abuse in sports, which resulted in demands for more accountability and change for youth athletes’ well-being.

While putting an inhumane man behind bars is an incredible achievement, the Fierce Five’s activism does not end with Nassar. 

Douglas has addressed racism, body shaming and self-empowerment. She has advocated for diversity and inclusion in gymnastics by tackling discrimination head-on as a Black athlete. She inspires others to embrace their uniqueness and achieve their aspirations through her interviews and social media interactions.

Wieber and Ross have also contributed their voices to a number of topics, including gender equality and mental health awareness. While Ross has been a champion for education in marginalized communities, Wieber has been a vocal advocate for self-care, stressing the necessity of prioritizing well-being above perfection.

In the realm of sports, the Fierce Five will always be regarded as champions. However, to many people outside the gymnastics arena, their unwavering dedication to social justice and inspiring activism is what really makes them heroes. 

There is no place for monsters like Larry Nassar in this world. We must all acknowledge how the Fierce Five have motivated future generations to speak up.

Joshua Sacher is a sophomore writing about athletes who led the change for social justice in his column, “More Than An Athlete,” which runs every other Thursday. He is also a sports editor at the Daily Trojan.