The selection of Li Li Leung as the new president and CEO of USA Gymnastics drew a range of reactions — from tentative hope for change to harsh criticism.

The responses to Tuesday's announcement came from women who say former team doctor Larry Nassar sexually abused them and attorneys suing the national governing body on behalf of hundreds of survivors, as well as other gymnasts, coaches, gym owners.

Leung comes to the position from the NBA, according to a statement from USA Gymnastics, "where she has been responsible for building, leading, negotiating and managing key partner relationships around the world."

She takes the job at a time when the Indianapolis-based national governing body is in the midst of bankruptcy and turmoil. It is the target of lawsuits from hundreds of women who say they were sexually abused by Nassar and is facing possible decertification from the U.S. Olympic Committee.

USA Gymnastics makes the case for new CEO

Kathryn Carson, USA Gymnastics board chair, said in the statement that Leung is the right person for the job at the right time. She is a former gymnast with extensive business and marketing experience.

“Li Li’s unique combination of business skills, management experience and passion for gymnastics make her perfectly suited to lead our organization at this important time in our history,” said Carson.

Leung said in the statement that she was "upset and angry to learn about the abuse and the institutions that let the athletes down."

"I admire the courage and strength of the survivors, and I will make it a priority to see that their claims are resolved," she said. "I look forward to collaborating with the entire gymnastics community to create further change going forward, which requires that we implement important initiatives to strengthen athlete health and safety and build a clear and inclusive plan for the future."

She is facing an uphill slog based on immediate reaction to the hiring.

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Li Li Leung:What we know about the new USA Gymnastics CEO

A chorus of criticism and doubt from Nassar survivors

Former gymnasts and attorneys representing abuse survivors say they've seen no sign that Leung has spoken out against abuse or advocated for survivors, and appears to be an Olympic insider. They also are not happy with the selection process that led to Leung, the organization's fourth CEO in the past two years.

Former Olympic gold medalist Dominique Moceanu, who has long criticized the sport's culture, said she is hopeful that Leung "can lead effectively and institute meaningful change," but added only time will tell.

"After a string of disappointments from USAG, I am hopeful that the organization has finally selected someone sensitive to issues of safety and abuse," she said in a statement to IndyStar. "The most important thing is that any new leadership at USAG does what should have been done a long time ago — place the safety of athletes first."

Many others were less gracious or willing to wait for change.

"This is deeply disappointing, but it gives us even more clarity that nothing is going to change at USAG and USOC," said Sarah Klein, whose is believed to be one of the first gymnasts abused by Nassar.

"The exact same people who thought (former USAG leaders)Kerry Perry and Mary Bono were good ideas hired Leung, with absolutely no input from survivors, namely the bankruptcy Creditors Committee who desperately wanted a voice in the search process," said Klein. "And so, true to form, USAG hired a consummate insider with ties to the USOC. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results​. USAG is officially insane."

Survivors say they weren't part of process

Klein said survivors begged for a voice in the selection of the new leader.

"They ignored us," she said.

Klein also questioned Leung's commitment to supporting abuse survivors.

"This is just more window dressing," she said. "What kind of woman would accept a job with an organization that is engaged in systemic protection of pedophiles and rapists? It must be really good pay."

John Manly, a California attorney representing Nassar survivors and a critic of USA Gymnastics' actions and practices, echoed the gymnasts' disappointment.

"She has been largely in sports marketing her entire career. If you want to continue to cover up sexual abuse and minimize it I think one of the best things you could bring somebody in from is the NBA," he said.

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USA Gymnastics' new CEO must prove herself, attorney says

Manly said he is hopeful that Leung will be an agent for change, but she will need to prove herself.

"The first thing she should do is fire her board and fire her staff, all of whom are partially responsible for what happened at USA Gymnastics," he said.

Jon Little, an Indianapolis attorney who represents three sex-abuse survivors, also questioned the selection.

"Another marketing person, huh?" Little said. "This again shows that the USOC and the NGBs (national governing bodies) only care about medals and money. ... This is insane. Specifically, I'm not going to judge her. But her background is the same as (USOC CEO) Sarah Hirshland and everybody else who comes along and leads me to believe there is no interest in putting athletes' safety ahead of medals and money."

Not everyone was as skeptical — or critical.

Rhonda Faehn, who headed the USA Gymnastics’ Women's Program from 2015-2018, said she is hopeful.

“From reading her resume and responses to the press conference,” Faehn said, “I feel the new CEO hire looks to be hopeful and ready to help the entire gymnastics community heal, unite, rebuild and lead.”

Kristie Phillips, a three-time national champion and Olympic alternate in 1988, said she was excited to have a former gymnast at the helm.

“Me and about eight of my teammates got into this group chat about her,"said Phillips, an international gymnastics judge who coaches and owns two gyms in North Carolina. "We were looking up old videos from when she was competing at championships. I think it's just super exciting to have someone that has professional sports experience, as well as a gymnastics background, leading our sport. I truly believe that it’s a good start to a new future.”

As a club owner and a coach, "the last two years have really been a struggle for all of us," Phillips said. "You know, where are we going? And what is our future?I think this is a really big breath of fresh air and good news, hopefully, for our community.”

Phillips said she believes Leung can bring about a new era that her predecessors were unable to deliver.

"I feel like Kerry (Perry) just sat there and said things, she kind of talked in circles, but she never really addressed the victims," she said. "I just got a really good sense from reading her interview that she is going to put the athletes first and she is going to do something to recognize and remember the victims always. I think Kerry had opportunities to do that and never did.”

Tracee Talavera, a former Olympic gymnast, said she was not aware of Leung's background "so I don't know about my reaction."

Talavera, who coached for many years after she stopped competing, said it is hard to see the negative cloud over the sport she loved and dedicated so much of her life to.

"Maybe it needs that," she said. "But if it changes (the culture), it needed that. If it doesn't change, it's for naught."

This story will be updated.

Contact Tim Evans at 317-444-6204 or tim.evans@indystar.com. Follow him on Twitter: @starwatchtim