Ex-Olympian sues USA Swimming over alleged abuse cover-up
Former U.S. Olympic swimmer Ariana Kukors Smith filed a lawsuit against USA Swimming on Monday, claiming the organization was aware of her former coach Sean Hutchison’s sexual abuse when she was a minor and proceeded to cover it up.
Kukors Smith sued the sport’s U.S. governing body in Orange County, Calif., in addition to suing Olympic coach Mark Schubert after she alleged he failed to report a “reasonable suspicion of child abuse or endangerment.”
{mosads}The lawsuit also alleges that USA Swimming in 2005 was aware of claims that Hutchinson had been involved with underage women.
“Those at USA Swimming need to change the culture of protecting predator coaches over young and vulnerable athletes such as myself,” Kukors Smith said, according to The Associated Press.
The AP reports that Kukors Smith alleges that Hutchinson “groomed” her for sexual assault when she was 13 years old, began to kiss and touch her when she was 16 and took part in sexual acts with her when she was 17.
Hutchinson has denied the allegations.
The development comes amid increasing sexual misconduct accusations against prominent men in multiple fields, including athletics.
Former USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar was sentenced to an effective life prison sentence after being accused by more than 250 women and girls of sexual abuse and found guilty in court.
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