WASHINGTON — Members of Congress were skeptical Wednesday that the US Olympic Committee has done enough to protect athletes from sexual abuse.
At a hearing of a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee Wednesday, the committee’s chair, Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.), said he thought the USOC was “more concerned about medals and money than athlete safety.”
Acting USOC CEO Susanne Lyons began her testimony by apologizing, “I know we can do better.”
That was echoed by Kerry Perry, the new head of USA Gymnastics.
“First, I want to apologize,” Perry told the subcommittee.
She spoke of being in the courtroom with the victims of USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar, the convicted serial child molester whose victims included gold medal-winning gymnasts Jordyn Wiebe, Gabby Douglas, Simone Biles, McKayla Maroney and more.
Perry said she was “appalled and sickened” by Nassar’s crimes.
“We must do better,” Perry said. “Out of respect for those who have stood on the podium under the United States flag, and out of devotion to the aspiring young athletes who set foot in gyms every day, we must, and we will, emerge stronger and safer.”
Perry was joined on the panel by the heads of USA volleyball, Taekwondo and swimming, who detailed some of the allegations of abuse in their sports.
The bright spot was the progress made by the US Center for SafeSport, which has handled 800 misconduct allegations since opening 14 months ago.
“Between the ‘Me Too’ movement and the Nassar trial, it’s really gone up,” said Shellie Pfohl, president and CEO of the center.
So far, the center has issued 169 sanctions against individuals, with 142 of them banned from coaching or participating in Olympic and Paralympic sports.
The center has created an online searchable database of banned individuals.
When detailing the number of investigators at the center, Pfohl was asked if she had enough resources.
Her answer was a succinct “No.”
Rep. Diane DeGette (D-Colo.) suggested Congress would put money toward the cause.
“This committee is fully supportive of what your organization — whatever money you need to actually do your work, please let us know,” DeGette said.