Back to the Olympics Newsfeed

Ariana Kukors Smith Sues USA Swimming, Says Sexual Abuse Was Covered Up

Ariana Kukors Smith, who represented the United States at the 2012 Summer Olympics, filed suit against USA Swimming, alleging the organization covered up sexual abuse committed by her former coach.

"This lawsuit is about holding people accountable who should have protected a 15-year-old girl," Kukors Smith said, per the Phuong Le of the Associated Press. "I needed help, and there were people in positions of power that could have helped me."

According to Le, Kukors Smith said Sean Hutchison "groomed her for sexual abuse when she was 13," which progressed to "touching and kissing" when she was 16 and "sexual activity" after she turned 17.