The long time United States figure skating star stated she was sexually attacked by John Coughlin in a first-person essay released in USA Today on Thursday
Longtime United States figure skating star Ashley Wagner stated she was sexually attacked by John Coughlin in a first-person essay released in USA Today on Thursday.
The three-time United States champ and 2014 Olympic bronze medalist composed that previous American skater John Coughlin climbed up into bed with her when she was 17 and he was 22, then kissed and searched her without her consent. The event happened after a houseparty throughout the United States group’s training school in Colorado Springs in June 2008.
Wagner, 28, is the most recent figure skater to make an allegation versus Coughlin, the two-time United States sets champion who eliminated himself in January , a day after he got an interim training suspension from the United States Center for SafeSport and United States Figure Skating for undefined conduct. He was 33.
“I now understand that no matter the occasions of that night, I entered that bed thinking I was safe to simply go to sleep,” Wagner composed. “He was the one who eliminated that security. I entered into that home simply wishing to have a good time with my pals. He was the one who shattered all of that. Going to the celebration in no shape, kind or method considered that male authorization to touch me. When stated anything that made him believe that it was all right to take control of my body away from me, I never ever.
“My existence at a celebration did not indicate my authorization. I want I might have found out that quicker. The years of regret I have actually felt need to not have actually rested on me, however on him.”
In March, among Coughlin’s previous skating partners implicated him in a series of Facebook posts of sexually attacking her over a two-year duration.
Coughlin “harmed a minimum of 10 individuals including me. He sexually abused me for 2 years,” composed Bridget Namiotka, who skated with Coughlin from 2004, when she was 14, till the 2007 season.
Wagner detailed her allegation to United States Figure Skating in February prior to going public with Thursday’s essay.
“What took place to Ashley must not take place to anybody, duration,” a representative for the nationwide governing body informed USA Today in a declaration. “Ashley is exceptionally strong; not simply to have the nerve to come forward with her story, however to share her experience openly to assist others.”
Wagner won an Olympic group bronze medal in 2014 and is now retired from competitive skating. Since she contends in a sport where judges identify success, she states she feared speaking out previously. She informed the paper 2 aspects assisted alter her mind: the introduction of the #MeToo motion and Coughlin’s suspension by SafeSport, a company committed to securing young professional athletes from abuse.
Coughlin preserved his innocence throughout the examinations. He was discovered dead on 18 January at his dad’s house in Kansas City, Missouri.
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In the United States, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255. In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be called on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org or jo@samaritans.ie. In Australia, the crisis assistance service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other worldwide suicide helplines can be discovered atwww.befrienders.org.
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/aug/01/ashley-wagner-sexual-assault-john-coughlin
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