TWO YEARS LATER

Olympian Settles Sexual-Abuse Lawsuit With USA Swimming

Ariana Kukors Smith told police in 2018 that U.S. Olympic swimming coach Sean Hutchison groomed her from the age of 13, then assaulted her.

Olympian Ariana Kukors Smith—who claimed in a lawsuit two years ago that she was groomed and then sexually assaulted by her U.S. Swimming coach Sean Hutchison when she was a teenager—has settled with USA Swimming for an undisclosed amount. “I am glad that we were able to come to a resolution to this difficult process," Kukors Smith, a former world-record holder in the 200-meter individual medley who placed fifth at the 2012 London Games, said in a statement Wednesday. “As I begin the next chapter of my life, I hope that these last two years, along with the efforts of so many others, will help to provide athletes with a safer environment in which to compete.” USA Swimming, in a statement, thanked Kukors Smith for her “incredible strength and bravery” in sharing her story. “Mrs. Kukors Smith thrust the very important subject matter of sexual abuse within youth-serving organizations into focus and furthered important dialogue about the continued need for robust athlete-protection policies and strong athlete and parent education,” the statement read.

See more of our coverage in your search results.

ADD THE DAILY BEAST ON GOOGLE

Olivia Messer

Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here.