John Coughlin: Figure skater's former partner accuses him of sexual abuse
In January Coughlin was found dead due to an apparent suicide, one day after he was suspended from skating due to sexual abuse allegations
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Your support makes all the difference.Figure skater Bridget Namiotka has accused her former partner John Coughlin of sexual abuse.
Coughlin died in January in an apparent suicide by hanging, one day after he was suspended from skating due to unspecified allegations.
"I’m sorry but John hurt at least 10 people including me," Namiotka wrote in a Facebook post. "He sexually abused me for two years. Nobody innocent hangs themself.
“Grooming happens. It happened to me and he hurt a lot of girls. Think about the victims.” she wrote in another post.
She and Coughlin skated together from 2004-2007 and won three medals together.
USA Today reported that John Manly, the attorney that represents more than 200 women in the sexual abuse case against Larry Nasser, is representing Namiotka and her family. Manly has also been representing two other women who claim coughlin had sexually abused them as minors.
"While she has struggled her whole adult life with the aftermath of this abuse, Bridget’s courage in coming forward about what she suffered at the hands of John Coughlin is heroic. It is her hope that by coming public, his other victims feel less alone.” Namiotka's attorney told People.
Coughlin, who was 33-years-old at the time of his death, had worked as a skater, coach and TV commentator. In December, SafeSport, an organisation which investigates sexual abuse in the Olympics and other sporting competitions, restricted his eligibility to figure skate pending a review of allegations against him. In January, they called for a full suspension. Coughlin was found dead the next day.
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