Approximately 300 pinwheels sit outside the Hannah Administration Building to represent all the survivors of Larry Nassar on June 22, 2018.
Twistars USA Gymnastics Club announced on their Facebook page that the gymnastics club where Larry Nassar treated young gymnasts in mid-Michigan for years has been sold to new owners. Nassar, a former MSU doctor and convicted sex abuser worked at the club in addition to his work at MSU.
Nassar was convicted of sexually abusing hundreds of young female athletes under the guise of medical treatment as a doctor for Michigan State.
The new club will be called the Capital City Flips and will begin training sessions on Feb. 15 under its new name. The new ownership group will have to find a new home as well as rebuild its reputation. Twistars operated out of the Summit Sports and Ice Complex, which announced they will be selling the building due to financial struggles associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.
The group announced on their Facebook page late Monday night that a "long term lease" was signed with the Lansing City Arena. The post said they plan to have operations running at the arena by June.
Three of Nassar’s 10 sexual assault convictions stem from his abuse against gymnasts at Twistars. Many of the survivors that came forward to speak against the abuse they suffered from Nassar during his criminal trial also said that they were abused at Twistars.
John Geddert, the former owner of Twistars, turned over ownership of the gym to his wife Kathryn Geddert in 2018 while he was facing sanctions from USA gymnastics for the gym’s response and handling of the Nassar scandal.
Survivors of Larry Nassar’s abuse also spoke out against Geddert and Twistars as a whole during Nassar’s criminal trial. Survivors said that Geddert fostered an environment that encouraged abuse.
John Geddert was accused of allowing Nassar one-on-one access to gymnasts in a back room at Twistars, encouraging unhealthy lifestyles and eating habits through weight restrictions for child gymnasts and entering the young girls’ locker room unannounced by survivors during Nassar’s trial.
There is still an ongoing investigation into Geddert’s full involvement with the Nassar scandal, and the Michigan Attorney General’s Office conducted searches of Geddert’s home and Twistars gym in January 2020 looking for evidence of Geddert’s involvement in the abuse.
In a statement on the Twistars' Facebook page, the Geddert's wrote, "TWISTARS USA has been sold! Our new name is Capital City Flips. Don’t worry, many of your favorite staff members and coaches have stayed on to work with CCFlips."
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