HIGH SCHOOL

Male gymnasts say 'it's an honor' to stand with women who endured sex abuse

David Woods
IndyStar
Indianapolis gymnasts Alec Yoder. above, and Anton Stephenson are looking ahead to the  2020 Tokyo Olympics.

INDIANAPOLIS – They chose words carefully. After all, there is no template for something like this.

But male gymnasts Alec Yoder and Anton Stephenson were, in their own way, affected by the USA Gymnastics scandal involving Larry Nassar, the former national team doctor. Nassar is serving multiple prison sentences. More than 150 women, including Olympic gold medalist Aly Raisman, told their stories of Nassar's sexual abuse during a sentencing hearing in Charlotte, Mich.

Gallery:20 potential Indiana Olympians in 2020

More:After unforgettable Rio performance, here are 20 potential Indiana Olympians for 2020

Yoder, 21, of Indianapolis, is a friend of Simone Biles, who won four gold medals at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Biles revealed she, too, is a survivor of sex abuse.

“I have a lot of great friends that have been affected by this,” Yoder said. “We’re gymnasts, we compete for our country. And it’s awesome to see the bravery and strength from all of these individuals, with everything that’s gone on.

“That empowers all of us as athletes. We stand next to them in everything that we do. It’s not something I like to talk about too much. It’s always an honor to be able to stand with individuals who are that strong and with people who fight through so much.

“We’re all more than gymnasts. We stand together as athletes, as individuals, as people who represent our country.”

Stephenson, 21, of Fishers, said he has spoken to some of Nassar’s victims.

“I think that really does hit home, and has influenced the way I look at USA Gymnastics,” Stephenson said.

Ten years after the Indianapolis area put two women, Bridget Sloan and Samantha Peszek, on the U.S. Olympic team, there are two men in the mix to make the next Olympics. Yoder and Stephenson will take another step in that process during the national championships, which open Thursday in Boston.

Twelve men will be chosen to the national team. Five men and five women will be selected for the World Championships, set for Oct. 25-Nov. 3 at Doha, Qatar. Only four gymnasts per nation will be allowed at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, although up to two more can qualify in individual events.

 Yoder and Stephenson each have one collegiate season left; Yoder at Ohio State and Stephenson at Nebraska. In the all-around, Yoder was third in the NCAA Championships and second in the Big Ten. Stephenson won Big Ten titles on vault and pommel horse.

Stephenson conceded he must be careful not to re-injure a shoulder that underwent surgery in May 2017. He plans to enroll in medical school after graduation, but he would defer acceptance by a year if he remains in the mix for the Olympics.

“I really do have goals, and, dare I say, expectations, that I get something big out of this competition,” he said.

Yoder said he was close to Stephenson when they were younger gymnasts and has noticed the constant improvement.

“Being able to watch him and watch him succeed, I’m really excited to go out and see him,” Yoder said. “He has such good energy.”

Yoder has been upgrading start values and will have some new routines in Boston. He has long been an all-arounder — he won a bronze medal at the 2014 Youth Olympics — and aims to be among the top three at nationals.

Yet he is also strong enough to qualify for the Olympics in an individual event. Gymnasts can do so through other international competitions. Yoder won a bronze medal on pommel horse in his World Cup debut in March at Doha.

“I’m in a good position, mentally and physically,” he said. “I’m ready to show what I can do.”

Email IndyStar reporter David Woods at david.woods@indystar.com or call (317) 444-6195. Follow him on Twitter: @DavidWoods007.