Former USA Swimming Coach Gets 10 Years for Sexual Misconduct with Teen Swimmer

 

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Thus far, there are five lawsuits facing USA Swimming for alleged sexual misconduct by its coaches. Its board of directors has approved new reforms to protect young swimmers across the country, including an athlete protection policy, additional screening of coaches and background checks for coaches, club employees, board members and volunteers, and mandatory reporting of sexual misconduct accusations by a minor to local law enforcement. However, these measures have yet to be implemented because USA Swimming says they must be voted on by the USA Swimming House of Delegates during its national convention this month.

ABC News

Indiana swim coach Chris Wheat, 37, has been... View Full Caption

Indiana swim coach Chris Wheat, 37, has been sentenced to 10 years after admitting to a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old swimmer. He pleaded guilty to two felony counts of sexual misconduct with a minor and one felony count of child solicitation. Close

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Last month, the group of attorneys representing the majority of cases against USA Swimming decried a culture of covering up abuse that they said the organization fostered.

"It has now been over three months since USA Swimming was under intense national pressure to clean up this mess, and nothing has been done," said Robert Allard, an attorney now representing multiple former swimmers in suits against USA Swimming. "We are hereby calling for new leadership at USA Swimming -- a leadership that does not bend over backwards to protect pedophile swim coaches and does everything it can to eradicate sexual molestation from this great sport of swimming."

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