Larry Nassar, USA, who raped a gymnast, was stabbed in the neck and chest in prison.

Larry Nassar, a former USA Gymnastics team doctor, was jailed for assaulting more than 150 girls in his care. Credit: REBECCA COOK/Reuters

Larry Nassar, former US Gymnastics team doctor convicted of sexually abusing young gymnasts, was stabbed in prison.

Nassar, 59, was attacked Sunday afternoon at the US Penitentiary, Coleman, in Sumterville, Florida, where he is serving his sentence. Officials said he is in stable condition in hospital after he was attacked by another prisoner. He was stabbed 10 times: two times in the neck, six times in the chest and twice in the back.

Five years ago, Nassar pleaded guilty to sexually harassing athletes while working as a sports medicine doctor at USA Gymnastics and Michigan State University.

He was sentenced to 175 years in prison for abusing young gymnasts in his care, including Olympic gold medalists Simone Biles, Ali Raisman and McKayla Maroney.

>The verdict came after a week-long hearing , in which 160 of his victims, most of whom were minors at the time of the abuse, told their stories.

Rachel Denhollander, one of the first women to speak out against Larry Nassar, reads her statement after his conviction. Credit: JEFF KOWALSKY/AFP/Getty Images

Nassar victims reach a $380 million (£295.8 million) settlement with USA Gymnastics in 2021, one of the largest ever recorded for victims of sexual assault . In 2018, Michigan State University reached a $500 million settlement with hundreds of victims.

The prison where Nassar is serving his sentence is a maximum security facility and currently holds 1,214 male offenders. According to the prison union, he is currently experiencing a «serious staffing crisis.»

The US Federal Bureau of Prisons said in a statement that the attack took place at 2:35 pm on Sunday. The bureau said: “In response, staff immediately took action to save lives. The staff requested emergency medical attention and life-saving efforts continued.

«The prisoner was taken to a local hospital for further treatment and examination.»

The report said an internal investigation had been launched . how the attack occurred and the FBI was notified.

After the Nassar scandal, USA Gymnastics revised its management and filed for bankruptcy.

In September 2021, Biles and Maroni were among prominent Olympic gymnasts who testified before a U.S. Senate committee about the sexual abuse they endured over the years under Nassar's care.