This site was originally supposed to be about Texas swimming (club, high school, college), Title IX reform, and a few other odds and ends.I hadn't planned to post about the topic that's resulted in the greatest number of readers, comments, and news tips - that of swimmer abuse at the hands of a coach.
A few posts on Don King and his history of abuse can be read here, here, here, and here.
This sort of story needs to be told - I'm just not sure I'm the one to tell it. As y'all know, I really love our sport. It pains me to delve into ugly stories like King's.
If someone out there has the desire to tell these stories, it might be time for you to start a site.
On that note, here's the latest on the subject. A San Jose attorney is going after USA Swimming. B. Robert Allard represented one of the girls Andrew King was found guilty of abusing at SJA. He's alleging widespread abuse within USA Swimming. Read more here.
Deena Deardurff Schmidt will be working with Allard.
According to the complaint, gold medal winner Schmidt was continuously and repeatedly molested by a former swimming coach, who is not named but is described as a "legendary USA swimming coach."
When she tried to complain about the abuse in the 1980s, Schmidt said she was told she'd have to have another coach file the complaint for her, to "vouch" for her, which she was unable to do, the lawsuit says. Years later, Schmidt said she was contacted by a top official at USA Swimming about her former swim coach being considered for the International Swimming Hall of Fame. At that time, Schmidt reiterated her allegations of sexual abuse against the coach, according to the lawsuit. Even so he was elected to the Hall of Fame.
That's about it for me, folks. That's all I can stands...I can't stands no more!!
7 comments:
This is organization is so pathetic that they need an audit from the top down. USA Swimming has a "Catholic Priest" problem.
I think it is time to send in the Senators!
So who did Schmidt swim for in the 70/80's.
let's avoid throwing out a bunch of names that may or may not be involved in this. as i wrote in the original post:
This sort of story needs to be told - I'm just not sure I'm the one to tell it. As y'all know, I really love our sport. It pains me to delve into ugly stories like King's.
If someone out there has the desire to tell these stories, it might be time for you to start a site.
more details at pr web:
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2010/03/prweb3752714.htm
folks writing this stuff must not know usa swimming didn't exist when schmidt's alleged abuse took place. that had to be during the aau era.
Deena claims abuse occurred when she swam for the Cincinnati Pepsi Marlins in the late 60's to early 70's. The coach is legendary and a member of the Hall of Fame. I know this coach and hope with all my heart it is not true. He has not been named thus far. The lawsuit is against the governing body of swimming. She lodged her complaint formerly in the 80's when it was USA Swimming. Her complaints were not investigated and the coach received the honor and is currently in the Hall of Fame. I will not name him here but a very quick google search will provide readers with a name. Please remember these coaches are innocent until proven guilty. In the cases of the two King's, the evidence was overwhelming.
The lawyers investigating have over 30 coaches names and countless victims. I heard 20/20 investigative reporters are gathering data too.
This is going to hurt USA Swimming tremendously. Many parents with talented children will avoid the sport as a result and I think performance on a national and world stage will be hindered as a result.
Still, kids come first and USA Swimming is somewhat neglegent for being behind the 8 ball in dealing with scumbags. If what Deena said is true, that she required a sponsor to bring her complaints forward because she was not currently an active member, that will certainly not bode well for USA Swimming.
This issue is pervasive and is a problem to the highest levels of the sport.
I agree with Button, its way too large and too heavy for this website. I appreciate the coverage so far, but I believe we are going to be hearing a lot more about this issue, like it or not, in the coming months. National media like ESPN, Oprah and 20/20 are on it. Since an Olympic Gold Medalist has stepped forward, and a Hall of Fame coach is accused, this is going to get national coverage with devastating results for all of us who love this sport so deeply.
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