Jump to content

Athlete A

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Athlete A
Promotional poster
Directed by
Produced by
  • Serin Marshall
  • Jen Sey
  • Julie Parker Benello
Edited byDon Bernier
Music byJeff Beal
Production
company
Distributed byNetflix
Release date
  • June 24, 2020(2020-06-24)
Running time
104 minutes[1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Athlete Ais a 2020 Americandocumentary filmabout theUSA Gymnastics sex abuse scandal.Directed by Bonni Cohen and Jon Shenk, the documentary follows a team of investigative journalists fromThe Indianapolis Staras they broke the story of doctorLarry Nassarsexually assaulting young female gymnasts and the subsequent allegations that engulfedUSA Gymnastics(USAG) and its then-CEOSteve Penny.It was released on June 24, 2020, byNetflix.

The title refers to gymnastMaggie Nicholswho was referred to as "Athlete A" to protect her identity while investigations into her sexual abuse by USAG doctor Larry Nassar were ongoing.

Summary

[edit]

While researching a story on the failure of schools to report sexual abuse, a reporter atThe Indianapolis Starhas a source reach out to her to suggest she look intoUSAG.The reporters atThe Starcollaborate on a piece that reveals thatSteve Penny,president of the organization, worked to cover for abusive coaches. When the piece is published in 2014,Rachael Denhollander,Jessica Howard,andJamie Dantzscherindependently reach out to the team atThe Starto reveal that they were sexually abused by USAG doctorLarry Nassar.Only Denhollander is willing to immediately speak on the record; during her interview she reveals that she is finally ready to come forward and plans on speaking to the police about what happened to her.

In 2015, gymnastMaggie Nicholsis sexually abused by Nassar at theKarolyi Ranchand reveals the abuse to her coach who informs her parents. Her parents are called by Penny, who informs them he has reached out to law enforcement to investigate the abuse.

In 2016,The Starpublishes its investigation into Nassar and Denhollander goes to the police with her evidence against Nassar. Maggie Nichols's parents, frustrated with the lack of information about their daughter's case, reach out to a lawyer who is working with other victims and discover that USAG was told of abuse going back at least as far as 2012. The criminal prosecution of Nassar goes forward, and he reaches a plea deal in 2017. Nevertheless,The Starcontinues to investigate the abuses perpetrated by USAG.

Penny is eventually arrested in 2017 for his role in covering up Nassar's abuse.

Nichols leaves elite gymnastics after being left off the 2016 US gymnastics Olympics team, which the documentary implies was because of her role in coming forward against Nassar.[a]She competes inNational Collegiate Athletic Association(NCAA) gymnastics, which reinvigorates her love of the sport.

Release

[edit]

Athlete Awas scheduled to have its world premiere at theTribeca Film Festivalon April 17, 2020, but the festival was canceled due to theCOVID-19 pandemic.[2][3]The film therefore premiered when it was released on Netflix on June 24, 2020.[4]

Reception

[edit]

Critical response

[edit]

On thereview aggregatorwebsiteRotten Tomatoes,100%of 60 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 8.4/10. The website's consensus reads: "Athlete Ashines an unforgiving light on horrific abuses—as well as the culture that allowed them to continue unabated for years. "[5]OnMetacritic,the film has a weighted average score of 85 out of 100, based on 12 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".[6]

Accolades

[edit]
Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.
Critics' Choice Documentary Awards November 16, 2020 Best Sports Documentary Athlete A Won [7]
[8]
Best Documentary Feature Nominated
Best Director Bonni Cohen and Jon Shenk Nominated
Best Editing Don Bernier Nominated
Most Compelling Living Subjects of a Documentary Maggie Nichols,Rachael DenhollanderandJamie Dantzscher Won
Alliance of Women Film Journalists January 4, 2021 Best Documentary Athlete A Nominated [9]
San Diego Film Critics Society January 11, 2021 Best Documentary Nominated [10]
Hollywood Music in Media Awards January 27, 2021 Best Original Score in a Documentary Jeff Beal Nominated [11]
  1. ^The opinion that Nichols' being left off the team was due to her reporting of Nassar is a controversial one, with many gymnastics outlets noting that Nichols suffered a knee injury a few months before the Olympics and was nowhere near her peak form at the Olympic Trials, despite having won multiple medals at the World Championships the previous year. That she was not named an alternate is more surprising, with Lauren Hopkins of The Gymternet speculating that the judges may have been asked by USA Gymnastics to score Nichols such that her rank would not warrant an alternate spot.

References

[edit]
  1. ^"Athlete A".Netflix.RetrievedJune 23,2020.
  2. ^Goldsmith, Jill (March 3, 2020)."Tribeca Sets Feature Lineup Of Films For 2020 Fest".Deadline Hollywood.RetrievedJune 14,2020.
  3. ^Beresford, Tribly; Lewis, Hilary (March 12, 2020)."Tribeca Film Festival Postponed Amid Coronavirus Fears".The Hollywood Reporter.RetrievedJune 14,2020.
  4. ^Adams, Dwight (June 4, 2020)."What to expect from 'Athlete A', the Netflix documentary about abusive doctor Larry Nassar".USA Today.RetrievedJune 14,2020.
  5. ^"Athlete A (2020)".Rotten Tomatoes.Fandango.RetrievedFebruary 27,2023.
  6. ^"Athlete A Reviews".Metacritic.RetrievedJuly 30,2020.
  7. ^Moreau, Jordan (November 16, 2020)."'Dick Johnson Is Dead' Wins Best Feature at Critics Choice Documentary Awards ".Variety.RetrievedJanuary 7,2021.
  8. ^Hammond, Pete (October 26, 2020)."Critics' Choice Documentary Awards Nominations: 'Mr. Soul', 'Gunda', 'Crip Camp' And 'Totally Under Control' Top List".Deadline.RetrievedJanuary 7,2021.
  9. ^Davis, Clayton (January 4, 2021)."'Nomadland' Triumphs at Alliance of Women Film Journalists Awards (EXCLUSIVE) ".Variety.RetrievedJanuary 7,2021.
  10. ^"San Diego Film Critics Society 2020 Awards Nominations".San Diego Film Critics Society. January 8, 2021.RetrievedJanuary 14,2021.
  11. ^Grein, Paul (January 27, 2021)."Diane Warren & James Newton Howard Among Top Winners at 2021 Hollywood Music in Media Awards".Billboard.RetrievedJanuary 28,2021.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Athlete_A&oldid=1214609447"