Olympian sues USA Swimming to allege sexual abuse cover-up
Olympic swimmer Ariana Kukors Smith has sued USA Swimming, alleging the sport’s national governing body knew her former coach sexually abused her as a minor and covered it up.
Kukors Smith filed the lawsuit Monday in Superior Court in Orange County, California. She accuses Sean Hutchison of grooming her for sexual abuse when she was 13, starting to touch and kiss her when she was 16 and engaging in sexual activity when she was 17.
He began coaching her at a swim club near Seattle.
Kukors Smith also is suing longtime Olympic coach Mark Schubert, saying he failed to report “a reasonable suspicion of child abuse or endangerment.”
Hutchison has denied the allegations and has not been charged with a crime.
