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US Olympic Coach Put on Leave Amid Sexual Abuse Allegations
A U.S. Olympic coach was placed on leave this week amid recent allegations of sexual abuse made by former Olympians and biathletes.
The Announcement
Rocky Harris, the USOPC’s chief of sport and athlete services, emailed members of the U.S. Biathlon national team to address the “concerning allegations of abuse” highlighted by several athletes in a report from The Associated Press.
“We want to commend these athletes for their immense courage and strength in coming forward,” Harris said in the email. “Effective immediately, we have placed a USOPC staff member on administrative leave pending an internal investigation.”
While Harris did not name the employee, Gary Colliander was the only USOPC coach mentioned in the AP report. USOPC spokesperson Jon Mason told the AP that no further details would be provided while the investigation is ongoing.
“While we are currently in the process of gathering all the necessary information surrounding these complaints, we want to emphasize that abuse and misconduct have no place in our community,” the email said, which was obtained by the AP.
Biathlon medals belonging to Grace Boutot are seen on October 17, 2024. On December 13, 2024, a U.S. Olympic coach was placed on leave following allegations of sexual abuse made public in a report by…
Biathlon medals belonging to Grace Boutot are seen on October 17, 2024. On December 13, 2024, a U.S. Olympic coach was placed on leave following allegations of sexual abuse made public in a report by the Associated Press.
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AP Photo/Steven Senne/AP Photo/Steven Senne
Sexual Abuse Allegations
Grace Boutot told the AP that Colliander began coaching her at age 15 and initially gave her excessive attention, including long hugs and inappropriate touching. According to a treatment summary from therapist Jacqueline Pauli-Ritz, shared with the AP, the behavior escalated after Boutot turned 18 to “kissing, sexual fondling, and oral sex.”
Boutot said she pleaded with Colliander to stop, but he refused. She said he warned her not to tell anyone, claiming it would ruin his life and bring an end to her biathlon career.
In September 2010, therapist Jacqueline Pauli-Ritz informed Colliander that Boutot was experiencing major depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, and advised him to stop coaching her, according to the treatment summary.
On October 7, 2010, Boutot experienced an overdose on antidepressant medication at a training camp in Soldier Hollow, Utah. She was hospitalized shortly after.
The following day, Colliander resigned from his role at the Maine Winter Sports Center. In December 2016, he joined the U.S. Paralympic team, where he currently serves as associate director of high performance for U.S. Paralympics Nordic Skiing.
Colliander did not immediately respond to requests from the AP for comment.
U.S. Biathlon CEO Jack Gierhart addressed the allegations in an email sent to the AP and U.S. Biathlon members late Thursday, calling the claims in the report troubling.
“We are deeply concerned about the experiences of the athletes mentioned. To all of you, I want to reaffirm our commitment to athlete safety,” Gierhart wrote.
Boutot was one of several Olympians and biathletes who came forward following an AP report earlier this year detailing findings by the U.S. Center for SafeSport that Olympian Joanne Reid had endured years of sexual abuse and harassment. The U.S. Center for SafeSport was established to investigate sexual abuse allegations in Olympic sports in the wake of the Larry Nassar U.S. Gymnastics scandal.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.
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