Watch At the Heart of Gold: Inside the USA Gymnastics Scandal

At the Heart of Gold: Inside the USA Gymnastics Scandal is a powerful and heartbreaking documentary film that delves into the horrific sexual abuse scandal that rocked the USA Gymnastics organization. Directed by Erin Lee Carr, the film premiered at the 2019 Tribeca Film Festival and was later released on HBO. At the center of the film is the trial of former Team USA gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar, who was accused of sexually assaulting more than 250 women and girls over the course of two decades. Through interviews with survivors, experts, and journalists who covered the case, the film explores how Nassar was able to get away with such heinous crimes for so long, and the catastrophic failure of USA Gymnastics and other institutions to protect young athletes.

The film opens with the story of Maggie Nichols, a former Team USA gymnast who was the first survivor to come forward and report Nassar's abuse to USA Gymnastics officials. Nichols reveals that she was told by USA Gymnastics not to discuss the abuse with anyone, and was forced to watch as her abuser continued to treat other gymnasts at competitions.

From there, the film takes viewers on a journey through the history of USA Gymnastics, tracing the evolution of the sport from its early days as a family-friendly pastime to a fiercely competitive and high-stakes industry. Along the way, we meet legendary gymnasts such as Simone Biles and Aly Raisman, who share their own experiences with sexual abuse and their frustrations with the way USA Gymnastics handled the scandal.

The documentary also shines a light on the many warning signs that were ignored by those in power, including Nassar's colleagues and supervisors at Michigan State University, where he worked for decades. We hear from former gymnastics coach John Geddert, who has since been charged with numerous crimes related to his tenure at the Twistars gymnastics club in Michigan, and former USA Gymnastics president Steve Penny, who has been indicted on charges related to his handling of the scandal.

Throughout the film, we see both the immense bravery of the survivors who spoke out against Nassar and the devastating toll that the abuse has taken on their lives. Many of the survivors suffer from PTSD, anxiety, and depression, while others struggle with addiction and suicidal ideation.

At the Heart of Gold is a sobering reminder of the importance of accountability and responsible leadership in protecting vulnerable populations. The film makes clear that Nassar's abuse was not simply the work of one rogue perpetrator, but the result of a larger culture of silence, complicity, and greed. Only by shining a light on these issues and demanding systemic change can we hope to prevent similar tragedies from happening in the future.

The film features interviews with a number of key figures in the case, including Simone Biles, Scott Blackmun (former CEO of the US Olympic Committee), and Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), who helped lead the charge for a Senate investigation into the scandal. The interviews are interspersed with powerful archival footage, including training sessions, competitions, and news clips from the height of the scandal.

Overall, At the Heart of Gold is a powerful and necessary film that offers an unflinching look at one of the most devastating scandals in sports history. It is a testament to the bravery of survivors and the importance of holding those in power accountable for their actions.

At the Heart of Gold: Inside the USA Gymnastics Scandal is a 2019 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 31 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 8.0.