State Supreme Court Brings Muchnick v. UC Regents to an End. A hundred is even more. A former student ofa high-level coach with ties to the North Baltimore Aquatic Club recently came forward with sexual abuse allegations against that coach. This is about the dozens of survivors of Scott Shaw and having the right thing done for them.. These allegations resulted in the coach's resignation, the club taking unprecedented action, and USA Swimming seemingly taking steps to protect the coach. Jessica Long, a 12-time Paralympic gold medalist, is now training at Loyola University in Baltimore, Md. Bowman, Phelps' coach, is the CEO of NBAC. Editor's note: Due to the serious nature of this story, WBAL news removed Tim Joyce's story from the website earlier Wednesday to allow us to do our 'due diligence.' Tuite herself was directly named in three wrongful termination and retaliation lawsuits, including one filed by Hopkins in April 2021, in which she was accused of ignoring reports of continued sexual misconduct in the athletic department and retaliating against whistleblowers, the Mercury News reported. USA Swimming put in place a comprehensive Safe Sport program, which is among the strongest in youth sports. In response to the news of Tuites new role, Hopkins told SFGATE in an emailed statement that hearing this news and reading SUUs comments only makes me more grateful for the competence and professionalism of our current leadership at SJSU. Michelle Smith McDonald, SJSUs senior director of media relations, told SFGATE that the school does not have a statement regarding Tuites new job. Here is the story as it appeared on WBAL. The abuse was alleged to have taken place in 1975, when swimming was governed by the AAU. He gathered his women athletes next to the pool and broke the news: The athletic trainer that the swimmers had accused of sexually abusing them during physical therapy sessions, he told them, had been cleared by the university. To again focus on NBAC for a moment, the refusal of the local media in Baltimore to ask the tough questions of Murray Stephens, Bob Bowman, John Cadigan, and, yes, Michael Phelps about what has occurred at their lauded club has been an abject abdication of journalistic responsibility. "I think Mr. King bears enormous responsibility here, But I think the parents were not minding the store," she said. The first investigation and its conclusion were largely kept quiet by campus leaders and Shaw continued treating female athletes unfettered as the Department of Justice put it for the next decade. "It's something that coaches talk about all the time," Stopkotte told ABC News. Whether the grim subject matter is Penn States negligence while children are raped, or Lance Armstrongs decade of vicious mendacity, or the hero-turned-alleged-murderer Oscar Pistorius, or USA Swimmings ethos of profits over child safety its never fun to face the dark side of an icon. Marie Tuite, former San Jose State athletic director and Tim Joyce, Concussion Inc.s new collaborator on the USA Swimming story, is a contributing writer for Forbes Real Clear Sports and a widely published journalist. Swimmers increasingly appear less willing to subject themselves to degrading treatment from coaches, whose behavior is often described, in part, as a remnant of tactics employed in the former Eastern bloc and in China, another artistic swimming power. Glez said swimmers needed to look like a model to compete at an elite level. About a month later, he was sued for defamation in Maryland federal court in Baltimore for some of what he'd been publishing and pushing other media to cover-allegations that a February 2012 incident involving NBAC team members amounted to a "sexual assault," even though a law-enforcement investigation concluded without charges. Pedro Pardo/Agence France-Presse Getty Images. My vote is YES because unless there is a criminal record or somebody sends a report to the LSC or USA Swimming, USA Swimming will never know. For hundreds of girls who'd worked An Instagram account, @mental_abuse_nac, was recently created for athletes to express their concerns. | Developed by, Super Bowl Special: Reprints of My Trilogy of Damar Hamlin Commentaries at Salon Last Month, Bar Association Assigns Investigator to Misconduct Complaint Against University of California Senior Counsel Michael Robert Goldstein; Lied Repeatedly to Court in Public Records Act Case Over Documents in Ted Agu Football Death Cover-Up. Additionally, this same victim approached USA Swimming months prior but was told nothing could be done because she wished to remain anonymous (USA Swimming has apparently changed that policy and now accepts anonymous reporting). Tuite will serve as the schools deputy athletic director of external relations. She is also a Bay Area native. Michael Phelps is the face of the sport and in addition, several other Olympic medalists have trained at the club, among themTheresa Andrews, Anita Nall, Beth Botsford, Katie Hoff and Allison Schmitt. It is dangerous for the media of any town or city, no matter how big or small, to be more concerned with protecting the powerful interests in their community rather than with the citizens they are supposed to serve. Being a member of USA Swimming is a privilege, not a right. But Gloushkov Leventhal said she realized that athletes from other countries often do not have the same satisfying experience. On Tuesday, a lawsuit was filed in Montreal by five former elite swimmers, accusing Canada Artistic Swimming, the national governing body, of failing to provide a safe environment and of neglecting abusive behavior by Szauder and previous coaches. Aside from his life on the InterWet, . According to the lawsuit, what actually happened was that, during a swimming practice, the two swimmers who Muchnick accused of assault "accidentally bumped or contacted" a third swimmer who "was stopped purposefully and was blocking the wall" of the pool. Chase Kalisz, a training partner of Michael Phelps at the scandal-laden North Baltimore Aquatic Club back when the Olympic champion was active, last November was named Breakout Performer of the Year at the USA Swimming Golden Goggles Awards. Muchnick, according to court documents, was ordered to remove the allegedly defamatory posts and to cease naming the teenager, referring to the incident as a "sexual assault" or characterizing it as involving "criminal activity," and referring to or discussing the details of any Maryland state-agency or law-enforcement investigation into the incident. Miss Manners: I shouldn't call because the phone scares people? It is appreciated that there are many points of view on what has happened and who should be or should have done various things.There is a need for explanation in some of the ways things should have been handled. That was an awesome start to the season, he said, a really, really awesome start.. Tess Howley was among the standouts for the Long Island Aquatic Club (LIAC) earlier this month in East Meadow. Summer McIntosh is the defending World Champion in the 200 fly, but hasnt swum the race in long course since winning that title last summer. NBAC wouldnt comment on the case, though one will recall that there was much coaching turnover in the club in the fall of 2011. Harriette Cole: I don't want the neighbor's kids at my house, Dear Abby: My wife said she doesn't like it, but it's part of my life, Ask Amy: I feel guilty for not speaking up about my co-worker's activities, Ask Amy: I'm your cabin housekeeper, and you apparently have no idea what I do. Michael Phelps swam his final race at his longtime Baltimore pool, Meadowbrook Aquatic Center, winning a 100m freestyle at the North Baltimore Aquatic Club Mid-Summer Classic on Monday. USA Swimming offers free online education on the issue of Safe Sport and abuse prevention for parents of our 330,000 athlete members. 2020 Concussion Inc. - Author Irvin Muchnick. And what of the reported incident and ongoing police and USA Swimming investigations of last years swimmer-on-swimmer sex assault? It was a spring afternoon in 2010. Regardless, we believe strongly in our responsibility to provide responsible communication on this issue, so we developed the Q&A below to answer questions you may have about this situation. Just as in the cases Ive uncovered at much smaller clubs in the Midwest and Alaska, and at major swim center likes FAST in Fullerton, California, USA Swimming chose to ignore the charges. When I embarked on these investigations 15 months ago, beginning with the tragic suicidal death of Sarah Burt, I never thought Id stumble into such a morass of institutional failure; from the cover-ups in Colorado Springs to the abuse history of legendary coach Rick Curl; from USA Swimmings retaliation against whistle blowers to new cases of coach abuse in Alaska, Missouri, and elsewhere. Susan Beachy contributed research. A few years after competing in synchronized swimming at the 2012 London Olympics, Szofi Kiss of Hungary began working with a coach from Russia, whom she would identify only by her first name as Natalia. Last October, an independent organization devoted to safe sport, called ITP Sport, reviewed the accusations made by Canadian swimmers. The coach wasnt removed by USA Swimming, he resigned his membership. What's clear from court documents in the case against Muchnick is that something happened between three young NBAC swimmers at Meadowbrook Aquatic Center in February 2012. Swimmings world governing body, known as FINA, also did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the lawsuit or to multiple requests to comment on the troubled state of artistic swimming. This reported abuse happened 37 years ago. Despite sex abuse allegations, former California high school coaches continue to work with children, young women "I think had they been minding the store had they been watching what's going on with their own children this opportunity never could have presented itself.". Indeed, as my queries into the history of past and present abuse continued, I realized that this story is perhaps too big for just one concerned journalist to investigate. Additionally, the club at the time wasand currently isco-owned by Phelps and his coach Bob Bowman (Bowman is currently taking a leave from coaching to work with TSE, a powerful consulting firm that was profiled in an earlier article in this series). The operative questionwhen is enough enough? Although the trainer had been told to stay away from the swim team, as Hopkins had demanded, he treated some of the athletes, along with the womens golf team and others. The only thing USA Swimming has a legal right to do is not allow this person to be a USA Swimming member if and only if he is convicted. WebMeadowbrook Aquatic Center, one of three facilities NBAC uses. The fear shared by many in our community is that if this were to happen today and was brought to USA Swimmings attention they wouldnt bring it to the police. Muchnick clearly was aghast at officialdom's decision not the bring charges, and in a March 25 post for the first time named one of the two alleged perpetrators, saying he did so "because of his despicable arrogance in bragging loudly about the criminal justice system's disposition of an episode for which he had earlier, and apparently insincerely, apologized." He has since faced similar criticism from swimmers and officials in Slovakia, where he coached from 2013 to 2018, before leaving to coach in Canada. Viktoria Reichova, 19, a swimmer who clashed publicly with Szauder after being suspended, told one newspaper that he sometimes referred to the Slovak athletes as little pigs. The parent of another swimmer said that some athletes essentially ate nothing but nuts for days at a time, fearing being called fat during weigh-ins. She said Szauder was a father figure who elevated her career to Olympic status and described his coaching style as completely normal.. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. While the organization continues to work compassionately and tirelessly on our comprehensive abuse-prevention initiative, which is routinely recognized as the best in Olympic sport, we remain as frustrated as you are with inaccurate, sensational, issue-driven reporting like this. "The alleged incident had been investigated, discussed and resolved between all parties, and the minors involved apologized and apologies were accepted," the teenaged plaintiff's attorney, Anne McKenna, wrote in court documents. Today, as government investigators circle the sports many Thank god for Tim Joyce. But when Muchnick started publishing posts about it in December-about 10 months after it occurred-and as he continued to do so in the subsequent months, his reporting morphed the incident into something sensational and alarming. If you are going to start using legal terms, at least have the brains to be able to follow a premise to its conclusion. At least NBAC handled their business. Denver gang member gave 14-year-old permission to open fire on woman with AR-15 after fender-bender, DA alleges, In 4 years, Lori Lightfoot went from breakout political star to divisive mayor of a Chicago beset by pandemic and crime, Florida lawmakers to consider expansion of so-called dont say gay law, Drone crashes at Disneyland after hovering over visitors heads See video, Rapper Travis Scott wanted for assaulting Manhattan club sound engineer, destroying $12K in equipment, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. Because USA Swimming (and therefore its Code of Conduct) was not in existence in 1975, the organization legally had no recourse in the matter. Fourteen different LSCs are represented in the Gold Medal level. Here are just a few questions the beholden media should ask Mr. Phelps, who also happens to be the co-owner of NBAC: Are you aware of why founder Murray Stephens resigned form NBAC? The statement also refers to Joyces claims asinaccurate, sensational, and issue-driven reporting. The letter then goes into details about the 6 core areas of USA Swimmings Safe Sport program, and says that it is routinely recognized as the best in Olympic sport.. She announced her resignation from SJSU altogether in an email to some staff members in the athletic department Aug. 29, 2021, but the university did not make an announcement, the Mercury News previously reported. Then you say Not true, and then spout several articles from their code of conduct. Aug 15, 2022. He told NBC Bay Area in 2019, swim coach Sage Hopkins shared concerns about an investigation Founded in 1967, Incorporated in 1968, America's #1 Age Group Team The news director offered an explanation for the first removal but not for the permanent removal. You can contact Susan Woessner, director of Safe Sport, at [emailprotected]or Elizabeth Hoendervoogt, Safe Sport coordinator, at [emailprotected]. Wielgus says the local swim clubs, not the national organization, bear the responsibility to check the full backgrounds of swimming coaches they hire. WebMD Swimming Approves 2022-2023 Meet Schedule. But Muchnick and I are determined to see the task through on the ugly stories behind the successes of our national swimming program. My version of it favors transparent and interactive relationships with readers and sources. The coaches have molested, fondled and abused dozens of swimmers, according to court records and interviews conducted by ABC News for reports Friday on "World News with Diane Sawyer" and "20/20.". 24 April 2015, 10:00am. But even that investigation was pilloried by the Department of Justice, especially when it was revealed that Shaw continued to treat female athletes while the second investigation was underway, despite yet another admonition not to do so. SUU is aware of the situation at San Jose State and based on a thorough review, reference checks and standard hiring protocols, the university is confident in welcoming Marie to Thunderbird Athletics, he said in an emailed statement. He went to practice and was being as positive as he could, even though I knew he was struggling, Mullendore, the senior, said. Ah, its the armchair-quarterback lawyer! Really? Reached for comment Wednesday, Tuite told SFGATE that she is focused on her new role. Gabriella Brisson, 27, a plaintiff in the current lawsuit, said in an interview that a former Canadian national coach once suggested she move to Africa to lose weight. NBAC acted perfectly. Such remarks felt very inappropriate and yet were just normalized at practice, Spada said. Murray Stephens is a major benefactor of McDonogh and his wife is a trustee there. IRS delays tax deadline for Bay Area, but California hasn't followed: What should you do? Im under no illusion that Phelps or his coach, Bob Bowman (now in the employ of a very powerful Olympic consulting group, TSE) will be forced to answer such questions in the immediate future. Police later documented at least 15 victims among the teenage girl swimmers he coached over the years, including a woman who said she had an abortion after King got her pregnant at the age of 14. WBAL is an NBC affiliate. Its all about them as usual. Natalia Tarasova, the head national team coach during that period and the only coach named Natalia listed in the Hungarian artistic swimming federations meeting minutes for those years, did not respond to requests for comment. Background checks are not uniform across countries, officials say. Muchnick's post reprints the apologies written by the two alleged perpetrators of the incident and, citing unnamed "swimming sources," says it is still the subject of a USA Swimming probe. You dont want to give up on this golden dream, Gloushkov Leventhal said, but at what cost?. Im looking forward to when I can tell the whole story regarding the tragic situation at SJSU. As far as people saying, enough is enough, you should understand that unfortunately in a country this large with the freedoms it has and an organization as large as USA Swimming sexually harassment cases are going to happen. The highest penalty USA Swimming can invoke is the permanent suspension of membership. I am moving ahead with a new opportunity, and that is where my focus is., Big Sky school hires former SJSU official involved in sex abuse scandal, Madilynne Medina is a news reporter for SFGATE. An investigation conducted by a human resources officer on campus cleared Shaw, saying that his pressure point therapy was legitimate a finding that led to the emotional poolside meeting. 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