Gymnast accuses ex-coach of sexual abuse and harassment
A former Olympics gymnastics team coach has been accused of sexually abusing a female gymnast when she was a minor training at a Huntington Beach facility, according to a lawsuit filed Tuesday.
A former U.S. team member alleges she was sexually abused between the ages of 12 and 18 by Don Peters, the 1984 USA Olympic gymnastics team coach, while she was training in the mid-1990s to early 2000s at the Huntington Beach gym SCATS, according to the lawsuit filed in Orange County Superior Court by the gymnast.
Peters was director of SCATS for nearly 30 years.
The suit also names the SCATS gym as a defendant, stating that it “allowed, concealed, and promoted the abusive behavior” initiated by Peters.
The lawsuit didn’t list names of the defendants because of a law requiring a judge’s approval prior to the disclosure of identities, but the alleged victim’s attorney, John Manly, identified the defendants for the Daily Pilot.
According to the suit, Peters allegedly used “his position of trust, authority and access in order to sexually abuse and harass the girl.”
The lawsuit says that Peters had the girl remove her clothing except her bra and underwear while he would “critique” her body and make sexual comments, such as asking whether she “was on her period.”
The girl’s name is being withheld to protect her identity.
Peters rose to prominence as the coach of the 1984 USA Olympics women’s gymnastics team, coaching famous gymnasts such as Mary Lou Retton, who won a gold medal that year.
Peters was banned by USA Gymnastics, the sport’s governing body, after three other women came forward in 2011 alleging sexual abuse while training with him in the 1980s, the suit says.
The girl, who at the time was a resident of Huntington Beach, hopes to “protect future gymnasts from undergoing the pain and suffering” she endured, the suit says.
“[Peters] was the face of USA gymnastics then,” Manly said. “He was a talented coach but also a child molester. There’s no place for that in youth sports.”
The complainant also alleges in the suit that SCATS knew that Peters had a history of sexual abuse but hired him in order “to preserve their own public image and reputation, so they could retain past participants and members and recruit new participants and members, thus allowing donations and other financial support to continue flowing into their coffers for financial gain.”
SCATS did not return a request for comment Friday.
The suit also says the girl was abused by a team physician, Dr. Larry Nassar, while she was training at the Karolyi Camp, a Texas gymnastics facility run by Olympic coaches Bela and Martha Karolyi.
The suit alleges Nassar sexually abused several other girls at the facility as well.
Nassar is currently being held without bail after being arrested on child pornography charges in December, according to ABC News. Four more people on Wednesday joined a lawsuit filed in a U.S. District Court in Michigan in which over 25 people claim they were sexually assaulted by Nassar, according to the Orange County Register.
Also named in the legal action are USA Gymnastics, Olympic coaches Bela and Martha Karolyi, and three presidents of USA Gymnastics for allegedly fostering an environment where Nassar could take advantage of the girl.
“USA Gymnastics denies the allegations against it in this lawsuit,” the organization said in a statement emailed to the Daily Pilot. “When USA Gymnastics was made aware of concerns related to Dr. Nassar in the summer of 2015, we immediately notified the FBI and relieved Dr. Nassar of any further assignments.
“USA Gymnastics banned Don Peters permanently from membership in November 2011 following a hearing that stemmed from a complaint filed through the USA Gymnastics grievance process. Due to the pending litigation and ongoing investigation, we are unable to comment further.”
Twitter: @benbrazilpilot
