Lift.Loop.Lunge Blog & Sexual Misconduct in Figure Skating Series

[okokok777]

Hello Everyone!

I recently launched a new figure skating blog known as Lift.Loop.Lunge!

In light of the anger and confusion brought on by the circumstances surrounding John Coughlin's death, I will be releasing a series of posts related to sexual misconduct in figure skating.

I have been working on this series for the past couple of months, and it will include interviews with SafeSport employees, civil right attorneys and survivors of sexual abuse in figure skating.

The first post: SafeSport, Sexual Misconduct and a Culture of Silence in Figure Skating

P.S. I also cover more general news in figure skating in my weekly round up: https://liftlooplunge.com/2019/04/10/weekly-round-up-04-02-04-09/

 

[okokok777]

Hello Everyone!

I recently launched a new figure skating blog known as Lift.Loop.Lunge!

In light of the anger and confusion brought on by the circumstances surrounding John Coughlin's death, I will be releasing a series of posts related to sexual misconduct in figure skating.

I have been working on this series for the past couple of months, and it will include interviews with SafeSport employees, civil right attorneys and survivors of sexual abuse in figure skating.

The first post: SafeSport, Sexual Misconduct and a Culture of Silence in Figure Skating

P.S. I also cover more general news in figure skating in my weekly round up: https://liftlooplunge.com/2019/04/10/weekly-round-up-04-02-04-09/

Quick follow-up: I've already filmed and edited an interview with a former skater and survivor of abuse. Their former coach was criminally convicted and given a lifetime ban from the USFS for sexual misconduct.

My original plan was to make this the third post. The first post is an in-depth article on the procedure and policies of SafeSport + an interview with a SafeSport employee. The second post is a critical discussion on SafeSport and rape culture in figure skating with a well-known civil rights attorney and former Olympian.

However, due to scheduling, I wouldn't be able to release the "first" post until next week.

Would anybody be interested in seeing the interview earlier (i.e. the end of this week)?

 

[Prancer]

As an avid figure skating fan, certified rape crisis counselor and a former freelance journalist,

Wow. Well, I look forward to seeing what you have to say.

 

[okokok777]

As an avid figure skating fan, certified rape crisis counselor and a former freelance journalist,

Wow. Well, I look forward to seeing what you have to say.

Thank you, @Prancer. It's been a very interesting experience. Organizational level changes have to be made to protect athletes. Unfortunately, there are so many factors (such as cost, culture and decentralization) stalling the formation and implementation of effective policies.

 

[puglover]

In the case at our rink I do not believe the young woman involved has ever seen it as inappropriate, and certainly didn't back then. He was her coach, she was very vulnerable living away from family and normal supports and he was in a somewhat supervisory role and her parents trusted him. He was decades older than her and married at the time. The sad thing is other adults saw it and they clearly knew what they were seeing was wrong - whether she felt like a victim at the time or not.

 

[okokok777]

Hello everyone! Does anyone have any specific questions about SafeSport? I'm currently editing my upcoming post and I want to be as comprehensive as possible.

 

[Sparks]

Hello everyone! Does anyone have any specific questions about SafeSport? I'm currently editing my upcoming post and I want to be as comprehensive as possible.

Are there solid definitions regarding specific types of misconduct?

 

[mollymgr]

Can someone report something that happened several years ago? How does SafeSport handle something like that?

 

[Artistic Skaters]

Here is an analysis regarding the implementation of SafeSport policies and potential problems.

*** Child abusers groom victims and their families. That's why this new Olympic abuse prevention policy is so flawed.
https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opini...-their-families-s-why-new-olympic-ncna1010186

Parents do not intentionally expose their children to harm, but often feel honored that a respected adult has taken a special interest in their child. Once predators have secured their trust, parents believe that they are providing a positive experience for their child with a person they consider safe. This part of the process of grooming enables abuse and hinders disclosure.

In the context of the Olympic movement and children’s dreams of gold, the special attention of experts in the sport is often welcomed by parents and children alike, interpreted as a sign that a child has exceptional athletic potential. When perpetrators have the trust of parents and the community — as serial sexual predator Larry Nassar did — they have unquestioned and unencumbered access to their victims, often when those children are far from home or help.

This is why experts agree that limiting one-on-one interactions between child athletes and adults affiliated with the sports is key to limiting — or hopefully eliminating — abuse.