Rick Curl sex abuse scandal spurs USA Swimming hearing

GlobalPost

USA Swimming has called an emergency disciplinary hearing after learning that Rick Curl, a well-known youth swim coach and current USA Swimming member, had been accused of repeatedly sexually molesting a teenage swimmer and paying off her family for their silence more than 20 years ago, according to ABC News.

Kelly Currin is the swimmer who accused Curl of molesting her as a teenager. According to the Washington Post, Currin told the newspaper that Curl had molested her on several separate occasions from 1983 to 1986 -- when she was 13 years old and Curl was 33. Curl agreed to pay her family $150,000 for emotional damages in a settlement that also kept the family from speaking publicly about the alleged abuse. 

Currin, now 43, told The Post, "I was stifled for 23 years from saying anything because I signed a piece of paper when I was 19. Now, I've gotten to the point in my life where I'm done being quiet about it... It was a crime, what happened."

The Post obtained the settlement documents, which they posted online, that outlined the alleged abuse. Curl was accused of four counts of battery and one count of inflicting emotional distress. 

According to Newser, 36 swimming coaches across the country have been banned from USA Swimming over the last 10 years following allegations of sex abuse of young swimmers.

This is not the first time a woman has been forced by the court to remain silent over her alleged abuse. A Kentucky teenager brought light to the issue just last week after she posted her attackers names on Twitter. Seventeen-year-old Savanna Dietrich, tweeted the names of the boys in response to the frustration she felt over her attackers plea bargain. Now, Dietrich could face an $500 dollar fine and up to $180 days in jail for the act if she is found guilty of being in contempt of the court.

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