USA Swimming Has A Sexual Abuse Problem, Too

There is rot in our youth sports culture and our children are being harmed. I’m not talking about USA Gymnastics and the crimes of Larry Nassar. No, there’s also trouble in the waters of USA Swimming ― and we’re barely paying attention.

Last month, the Southern California News Group published an investigative feature about decades-long sexual abuse problems in USA Swimming. According to SCNG, over the past two decades, “at least 252 swim coaches or officials have been arrested, charged by prosecutors or disciplined by USAS for sexual abuse or misconduct against individuals under 18.” There have been at least 590 alleged victims. Some were preschoolers at the time.

Not only did people at the top of the chain, including USA Swimming’s former executive director and top officials, fail to take action after reports of abuse, but so did Susan Woessner, the recently resigned director of USA Swimming’s Safe Sport. Safe Sport describes itself, I kid you not, as “USA Swimming’s comprehensive abuse prevention program.” Woessner resigned after disclosing, according to ESPN, that “she once kissed a coach she later helped investigate for an improper relationship with a swimmer.”


Source : huffingtonpost