As the Paris Paralympic Games begin, a spotlight has turned on the USOPC for its failure to protect athletes.
EKO is proud to represent champion swimmer Parker Egbert. As recently reported by the New York Times, Parker’s decision to come forward about the sexual abuse committed by his teammate Robert Griswold during Paralympic training and competition, has revealed rampant, systemic failures within the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC).
Parker is seeking punitive damages against USOPC after discovery in his lawsuit revealed that, before USOPC assigned Griswold to be Parker’s roommate and de facto chaperone, at least six athletes raised concerns to USOPC about Griswold, including a report of sexual assault made by a blind, minor swimmer.
Parker’s formal complaint to SafeSport—the organization Congress established to safeguard athletes from sexual misconduct—has languished for well over a year. Back in March, lawmakers scrutinized both USOPC and SafeSport for the litany of problems that led up to and followed Parker’s abuse by his teammate Robert Griswold, and yet to this day, as the Paris Paralympic Games begin, SafeSport hasn’t made a final determination on the complaint.
USOPC’s egregious failure to protect Parker echoes its past scandals both within Swimming, and in other sports, most notoriously the hundreds of Olympic gymnasts abused by Larry Nassar. Parker and his family are among a chorus of voices demanding meaningful change and accountability. The elite athletes who proudly represent our country deserve better.
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