John Coughlin sexually abused me before he killed hiJohn Coughlin sexually abused me before he killed himself: Bridget Namiotkamself: Bridget Namiotka

John Coughlin sexually abused me before he killed hiJohn Coughlin sexually abused me before he killed himself: Bridget Namiotkamself: Bridget Namiotka

  • By michael@cvcteam.com
  • |

A former partner of US figure-skating champion John Coughlin — who committed suicide in January — has come forward with claims he sexually abused her for two years.

The revelation by Bridget Namiotka was made in response to a now-deleted Facebook post on Sunday in support of Coughlin, USA Today reported.

“I’m sorry but john hurt at least 10 people including me,” she wrote. “He sexually abused me for 2 years. Nobody innocent hangs themself [sic].”

Coughlin, 33, had been placed on restricted eligibility by US Center for SafeSport, an organization that investigates bullying and physical and sexual abuse in sports, a month before he killed himself. He was being probed for allegations of abuse — the nature of which were not disclosed at the time.

Namiotka, 29, skated with Coughlin from 2004 to 2007, when he was between the ages of 18 and 21 and she was 14 to 17. Together they won three medals on the Junior Grand Prix series and finished ninth in the senior level at the 2007 US national championships.

She followed up with other comments about Coughlin on Facebook.

“Someone that’s innocent doesn’t hang himself,” she wrote. “Think about the victims when you’re speaking up for what he did to at least 10 girls.”

She also posted, “Grooming happens. It happened to me and he hurt a lot of girls. Think about the victims.”

John Manly, the attorney who represents Namiotka as well as the more than 200 victims of disgraced gymnastics coach Larry Nassar, confirmed she wrote the Facebook posts.

Coughlin was a two-time US pairs champion with two other partners. He hanged himself at his father’s Kansas City home one day after being suspended by SafeSport.

Sources told USA Today that Coughlin was being investigated for three reports of sexual misconduct. His death ended that probe.

Asked about Namiotka’s allegations, Coughlin’s former agent, Tara Modlin, told USA Today in a text message, “It seems that you want me to comment on an unstable persons (sic) Facebook comment – I don’t really understand your question. … my suggestion is to call some of his other partners …”

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