US coach sued over alleged abuse
Source: Agencies |
August 13, 2010, Friday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
A CALIFORNIA woman sued the governing body of US competitive swimming and her former coach, claiming he sexually abused, humiliated and harassed her when she was a teenager training under his supervision.
The lawsuit, announced on Wednesday, is one of several around the country alleging USA Swimming covered up wrongdoing and allowed a culture of abuse to exist in coaching ranks. The lawsuit also names the West Valley Swim Club and Pacific Swimming, the West Coast branch of USA Swimming.
USA Swimming declined to comment on the latest case but said it investigates misconduct complaints and revokes membership if behavior was inappropriate.
The latest lawsuit claims swim coach Norman Havercroft sexually abused Jancy Thompson over a five-year period in the 1990s, beginning when she was about 15.
Thompson, now 28, who graduated from the police academy, said she came forward to help affect change. "I was robbed of my childhood and never performed to my full capabilities," she said. "I want to ensure that no one has to endure what I went through and carry such a burden the rest of their lives."
The alleged abuse took place at various locations in Santa Clara County, including a Los Gatos swim club where Thompson trained, the homes of Thompson and Havercroft, and at a school, according to the 44-page lawsuit first filed June 18 and amended August 4.
Havercroft is accused in the lawsuit of groping, engaging in sexual acts, providing pornography and buying an Internet camera for "cyber" sex.
The lawsuit, announced on Wednesday, is one of several around the country alleging USA Swimming covered up wrongdoing and allowed a culture of abuse to exist in coaching ranks. The lawsuit also names the West Valley Swim Club and Pacific Swimming, the West Coast branch of USA Swimming.
USA Swimming declined to comment on the latest case but said it investigates misconduct complaints and revokes membership if behavior was inappropriate.
The latest lawsuit claims swim coach Norman Havercroft sexually abused Jancy Thompson over a five-year period in the 1990s, beginning when she was about 15.
Thompson, now 28, who graduated from the police academy, said she came forward to help affect change. "I was robbed of my childhood and never performed to my full capabilities," she said. "I want to ensure that no one has to endure what I went through and carry such a burden the rest of their lives."
The alleged abuse took place at various locations in Santa Clara County, including a Los Gatos swim club where Thompson trained, the homes of Thompson and Havercroft, and at a school, according to the 44-page lawsuit first filed June 18 and amended August 4.
Havercroft is accused in the lawsuit of groping, engaging in sexual acts, providing pornography and buying an Internet camera for "cyber" sex.
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