The Olympian Ashley Wagner on Thursday said an older male figure skater had Sexually Assaulted her when she was 17, shining another harsh light on the sport.
Coughlin, a former national pairs champion, killed himself in January while facing an investigation into accusations of sexual misconduct, including inappropriate conduct involving minors.
Coughlin, 33, told USA Today shortly before he died that the accusations were “unfounded.” He had been suspended from involvement in the sport by the U.S. Center for SafeSport, a nonprofit organization tasked with investigating reports of sexual abuse.
They include assaults of gymnasts by a national team doctor, Lawrence G. Nassar , who is now in prison; the accusations against Coughlin; and abuse cases in swimming and taekwondo.
Athletes under 18 are now prohibited from living with their coaches, once a common practice among skaters, who often left home to train at ice rinks around the country, Anderson said.
Coaches are also forbidden to be alone with skaters who are minors, whether at the rink or in a car to and from practice, Anderson said, and a member of figure skating’s SafeSport staff travels to all international events to monitor the American participants.
- Figure skater Ashley Wagner tells story of sexual assaultThe Boston Globe
- Why it took Ashley Wagner a decade to talk about her sexual assaultUSA TODAY
- Olympian Ashley Wagner Says She Was Sexually Abused By Fellow Figure Skater At 17HuffPost
- Ashley Wagner says Coughlin sexually assaulted her in 2008Reuters
- A second Olympic skater now says Kansas City's John Coughlin sexually assaulted herKansas City Star
- Ashley Wagner says she was sexually assaulted by another figure skater when she was 17Chicago Tribune
- Figure skater Coughlin abused me, says Olympic medallist WagnerFree Malaysia Today
- Olympic figure skater Ashley Wagner says she was sexually assaulted at 17 by another skaterWashington Post
- Ashley Wagner says she was sexually assaulted at 17 by fellow skaterToday.com
