Six women sued USA Swimming in 2020, alleging the organization covered up decades of sexual abuse at the hands of its coaches. Debra Grodensky, Suzette Moran, Tracy Palmero, as well as three other unidentified women claimed they endured sexual abuse and harassment dating back to the ’80s. Named in the suits were former U.S. Olympic coach Mitch Ivey, former U.S. national team director Everett Uchiyama, and former coach Andrew King.
In her lawsuit, Grodensky said she became a victim of assault at just 12 years old, further alleging that King had sex with her against her will when she was 15 years old and later asked her to marry him. Due to the intensity of the situation, Grodensky was forced to quit the sport she once loved. Palmero accused Uchiyama of grooming her at 14 and sexually assaulting her at 16 years old, saying he “took away [her] dreams” of a normal life as a teenager.
Moran was 16 years old when she said she was sexually assaulted by Mitch Ivey, and claims that USA Swimming was well aware of his advances. The former athlete also claimed that Ivey impregnated her at 17 years old, allegedly telling her “it was her problem to deal with.” She underwent an abortion and was forced to stop training ahead of the 1984 Olympic Games. Uchiyama, King, and Ivey were all banned for life from all Olympic sports, while King is serving a 40-year prison sentence for child molestation.
