Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles blasted USA Gymnastics on Wednesday, still reeling from the impact of sexual abuse and the organization that "failed to protect" her and dozens of other female gymnasts.
Biles spoke to the press ahead of her sixth U.S. Gymnastics National Championships appearance in Kansas City, Missouri, and expressed her frustration with the sport's governing body in the wake of the Larry Nassar scandal.
"It's hard coming here for an organization and having had them fail us so many times. And we had won gold. We've done everything that they asked us for, even when we didn't want to. And they couldn't do one damn job. You had one job. You literally had one job, and you couldn't protect us," the four-time Olympic gold medalist said, wiping away tears.
Emotional @Simone_Biles expresses frustration toward USA gymnastics at the 2019 U.S. Championships. pic.twitter.com/eM9ameQw6e
— Olympic Channel (@olympicchannel) August 7, 2019
"It's just really sad 'cause now every time I go to the doctor or training I get worked on, it's like, 'I don't want to get worked on,' but my body hurts. I'm 22 and at the end of the day that's my fifth rotation and I have to go do therapy. But it's just hard," she continued. "We try to work through it, but it will take some time. I'm strong, I'll get through it, but it's hard."
(MORE: Survivors of sexual abuse honored at ESPYs: 'Don't let anyone rewrite your story')Biles, 22, was one of dozens of gymnasts who spoke out about the rampant sexual abuse by the disgraced doctor, who was sentenced in January to up to 175 years in prison.
USA Gymnastics CEO and president Li Li Leung issued a statement in response to Biles' comments.
"We will continue to work hard to demonstrate to Simone and all of our athletes, members, community and fans that we are working to foster a safe, positive and encouraging environment where athlete voices are heard," Leung said.
The four-time defending world champion in the all-around is looking to lock up in her spot for the world championship team in October.
(MORE: Olympian opens up on taking anxiety medication, getting help in therapy)She has won the last five all-around titles she's taken part in at the U.S. Championships. She took a year off in 2017, the only time since 2013 she hasn't won.
If Biles notches her sixth title, she will tie Clara Schroth Lomady's record from the 1940s and 1950s, according to OlympicTalk.
