Best of '20/20' in 2010: Sex Tapes, Political Scandals and Swim Coach Molestation
A look at "20/20's" most popular stories from the past year.
Dec. 31, 2010— -- "20/20" diligently investigated the year's biggest breaking news events, international stories, political scandals and more. Here's a look back at our most popular stories of 2010 on ABCNews.com.
In a sex abuse scandal that some victims compare to what happened in the Catholic Church, at least 36 swimming coaches have been banned for life by the USA Swimming organization over the last 10 years because of sexual misconduct. The coaches have molested, fondled and abused dozens of swimmers, according to court records and interviews conducted by ABC News.
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This year 16-year-old Abby Sunderland took on a tremendous feat: she attempted to sail around the world alone. Her trip went along smoothly until June, when she hit a storm near Madagascar. According to her mother, MaryAnne Sunderland, Abby was in 20-25 foot waves with 35-knot winds when she lost contact. Abby was later rescued though her ship sustained some damage.
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2010 was a trying year for ex-presidential candidate John Edwards.In January, former aide Andrew Young revealed to 20/20 that he had a sex tape that he says was of John Edwards and Rielle Hunter. Young and his wife claimed that they found the tape inside a box that Hunter left behind in a rented home.
By the end of January, John Edwards' and wife Elizabeth had separated. John moved out of the family home in North Carolina. He released a statement shortly after the separation saying, "It is an extraordinarily sad moment, but I love my children more than anything and still care deeply about Elizabeth."
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Dutch playboy Joran van der Sloot first gained notoriety when American student Natalee Halloway disappeared in Aruba in 2005. Some believe that he was the last person to see her. He reentered the media this year when he was accused of -- and later confessed to -- murdering 21-year-old Peruvian Stephany Flores Ramirez. Now he is in a Peruvian jail.
However, not all the news about van der Sloot was negative in 2010. "20/20" spoke with his ex-girlfriend Melody Granadillo, who remembered van der Sloot as a kind and generous boyfriend who showered her with thoughtful gifts and love notes. Despite their breakup, the two stayed in touch. "20/20" also spoke with van der Sloot's mother, Anita, who echoed Melody's sentiments saying Joran "is not a murderer."
Click here to read more from ex-girlfriend Melody Granadillo.
Click here to read more from Joran's mother Anita.
An "alarmingly high" number of high school students are reporting sexual advances from their adult bosses and other supervisors at some of the country's best known fast food operations, according to an official at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. 20/20" spoke to Kati Moore of Orange County, Calif., who claimed that as a 16-year old, she became involved with a 24-year-old supervisor at Starbucks who, she says, made almost daily demands on her for sex, months after she began working as a barista. Looking back on the situation, Katie reflected, "I felt like I didn't have a choice. I was ashamed and embarrassed. And I felt like he had complete control over my job ... he knew all this stuff about my family and my friends and my school."
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Former South Carolina first lady Jenny Sanford discussed her painful and public breakup with then-Governor Mark Sanford in an exclusive interview with Barbara Walters. She looked back on her marriage, and recalled Mark's frugal and at times "cheap" nature. Many of these reflections served as inspiration for her memoir "Staying True."
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