Polhansen/Thinkstock(INDIANAPOLIS) — An Indianapolis Star-USA Today investigation into sexual abuse of young gymnasts has turned up hundreds of allegations.
The nine-month investigation located at least 368 gymnasts who claimed they were victims of sexual abuse over the past 20 years. The Indianapolis Star reported that a number of the victims were children, and almost all of them were girls.
More than 100 coaches, gym owners and other adults are accused of involvement in the alleged abuses. The report also noted that the system failed to stop abusive coaches from relocating to other gyms.
Nancy Hogshead-Makar, an Olympic gold-medal swimmer and CEO of Champion Women, a group that advocates for women and girls in sports, said the alleged abuse was allowed to continue because victims were too afraid to speak out.
“It’s just too easy for coaches to keep getting hired and hired and hired. Sexual abuse thrives on the fact that people are embarrassed about the topic, ashamed to talk about it, and they keep quiet about it,” Hogshead-Makar told the Indianapolis Star. “And that’s exactly why molesting coaches keep getting hired at the next place. Nobody talks about a coach that is inappropriate with athletes; the coach quietly moves away and gets hired someplace else.”
USA Gymnastics is the national governing body for the sport in the United States. More than 3,450 clubs nationwide have a membership in USA Gymnastics, although not all do. It is not clear how many of the alleged victims were members. The Indianapolis-based organization said it was cooperating with law enforcement and working to prevent any future abuse.
“Nothing is more important to USA Gymnastics, the board of directors and CEO Steve Penny than protecting athletes, which requires sustained vigilance by everyone — coaches, athletes, parents, administrators and officials,” USA Gymnastics said in a statement to the Indianapolis Star. “We are saddened when any athlete has been harmed in the course of his or her gymnastics career.”
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