Who is Peter Foley? 3 former Olympians sue ex-snowboard coach for coercing sexual acts ‘through force and manipulation’
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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Three former US snowboarders, including an Olympic bronze medalist, have filed a lawsuit suing their former fired coach, the National Snowboarding Federation, and the US Olympic Committee in a US district court in Los Angeles on Thursday, February 2. The lawsuit alleges Peter Foley, US Ski and Snowboard (USSS), and the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) of sex trafficking, harassment, conspiring, and covering up scores of acts of sexual assault and misconduct.
Three-time Olympian Rosey Fletcher, former national team member Erin O'Malley, and 2010 Olympian Callan Chythlook-Sifsof have detailed horrifying sexual assault and harassment against Foley, while the federation turned a blind eye to his actions for decades. The lawsuit also alleges Foley, the National Federation, its longtime CEO Gale 'Tiger' Shaw, and the USOPC "conspired and acted in concert with one another to commit unlawful acts."
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Who is Peter Foley?
Foley was a longtime former US Olympic coach. He was the head coach for US Ski and Snowboard since 1994 before being fired in March 2022 after multiple accusations of sexual misconduct emerged. The suit alleges Foley exploited his position of trust with the athletes to "coerce sexual acts through force, manipulation, emotional abuse, intimidation, and retaliation," according to Daily Mail.
"Foley's abuse was reported to executives of the USSS and the USOPC on numerous occasions by multiple athletes who were coached by Foley, yet no action was taken." The US Ski & Snowboard claimed they were aware of the allegations and reported the allegations to the US Center for SafeSport, which handles reports of sexual abuse within the Olympic movement.
Years of abuse
The bronze medalist, Fletcher claimed that she was sexually assaulted at the age of 19 at a US team camp and again at a postrace event at the Olympics. Fletcher claimed she initially reported the abuse to ESPN anonymously. O'Malley claimed to be "'sexually assaulted and harassed at USSS- and USOPC-sponsored competitions by Foley, who exploited their unequal power dynamic." The former national team member O'Malley said Foley mentally and physically abused her when she was only 15 in the presence of Fletcher.
"Foley began groping Erin and forcibly trying to kiss her -- all without her consent," the lawsuit said, adding, "For nearly twenty years, coaches and executives at both organizations enabled Foley's behavior, refused to act, and helped cover up Foley's behavior, allowing him to continue his pattern of abuse." However, it was only after whistleblower ex-Olympic snowboarder Chythlook-Sifsof first raised the allegations against Foley that became known to the public.
'I vehemently deny the allegations'
Chythlook-Sifsof took to Instagram to detail disgraced Foley's actions in February 2022 along with a series of Instagram posts. At that time, Foley categorically denied the accusations leveled against him. He said in a statement, "I'm surprised by the allegations. I vehemently deny the allegations. I'm doing my best to concentrate on supporting the athletes at the Olympics." USSS placed Foley on a leave of absence in February 2022 before being sacked a month later.
The lawsuit filed against Foley alleges he used his power of position to commit an uncountable number of sexual misconduct against athletes which was all unwanted and non-consensual. The suit is seeking an unspecified amount of money damages.