Gymternet reacts to ‘Athlete A’ documentary; plus trailer, how to watch
“Athlete A,” a documentary film that delves into the world of USA Gymnastics and the sexual abuse issues that have plagued it, premiered on Netflix Wednesday morning to widespread acclaim.
The film everybody has been talking about is now available to stream, and the consensus is in: the documentary named after Maggie Nichols is emotional, difficult to swallow at times, and a must-watch for the gymnastics community and beyond.
Despite the film just premiering on Netflix early Wednesday morning, plenty of fans around the gymternet have already taken the plunge and clicked play on the feature.
Keep reading for some viewers’ initial reactions, the trailer for the film, and a link to watch.
Gymternet reacts to “Athlete A”
Maggie Nichols’ legacy
A powerful quote
Watch it and demand change.
A testament to perseverance
People don’t realize
About “Athlete A”
The Netflix synopsis for the film reads, “An August 2016 article in the Indianapolis Star about USA Gymnastics protecting coaches accused of abuse leads to the explosive revelation that the USAG women’s team doctor, Larry Nassar, had been abusing athletes for over two decades. This film follows the IndyStar reporters as they reveal the extensive cover-up that allowed abuse to thrive within elite-level gymnastics for more than two decades, the attorney who is fighting the institutions that failed these athletes, and most importantly, the brave whistle-blowers who refuse to be silenced.”
Former NCAA gymnast and World champion Nichols, Olympic bronze medalist Jamie Dantzscher, and former gymnast Rachael Denhollander all make appearances in the trailer and, along with family members and others in the gymnastics community, will be interviewed in the film.
The film was previously set to have its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival before the festival was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The film’s title, “Athlete A,” refers to Nichols, who was the first athlete to file a complaint about Nassar to USAG in 2015.
Watch “Athlete A” on Netflix
The documentary is now live on the streaming platform. Netflix subscribers can click here to watch. You can watch the trailer for the film below.
