Sex abuse in Olympic sports is not a new problem. Why does it keep happening?
Timothy Nguyen
In late March   Timothy Nguyen   a 25-year-old coach at Quicksilver  a USA Swimming-affiliated club in San Jose  quit after an underage swimmer told the clubâs head coach that  Nguyen  had sent her suggestive messages through social media. The head coach informed USA Swimming officials  but no one told law enforcement.
Two months later  on May 30  Elizabeth Hoendervoogt  a USA Swimming official and abuse prevention specialist  called San Jose police to report  Nguyen  and send over messages the coach had exchanged with three swimmers  all aged 14 to 16.
In one exchange  police allege   Nguyen  asked a girl if sheâd been sexually active yet  discussed the specifics of several sex acts and then suggested they could be âfriends with benefits.â In another  police say   Nguyen  asked a girl for nude photos. One girl told police she had improved as a swimmer under Nguyen  and she had been concerned  he  would stop coaching her if she didnât respond.
In late June  police arrested  Nguyen . Then they learned Quicksilverâs head coach and USA Swimming officials had known about some of Nguyenâs behavior in March. In California  coaches are mandatory reporters and must inform authorities within 36 hours of learning of suspected sex crimes involving children.
USA Swimming spokesman Matthew Farrell said it took two months for the Olympic sports organization to report  Nguyen  to police because it took time to collect the text messages. When asked whether USA Swimming or the club should have handled the report differently  Farrell replied: âIâm not aware of any substantive changes that USA Swimming or the club would make.â
In late March    [TGT]    a 25-year-old coach at Quicksilver  a USA Swimming-affiliated club in San Jose  quit after an underage swimmer told the clubâs head coach that  Nguyen  had sent her suggestive messages through social media. The head coach informed USA Swimming officials  but no one told law enforcement.
Two months later  on May 30  Elizabeth Hoendervoogt  a USA Swimming official and abuse prevention specialist  called San Jose police to report  Nguyen  and send over messages the coach had exchanged with three swimmers  all aged 14 to 16.
In one exchange  police allege   Nguyen  asked a girl if sheâd been sexually active yet  discussed the specifics of several sex acts and then suggested they could be âfriends with benefits.â In another  police say   Nguyen  asked a girl for nude photos. One girl told police she had improved as a swimmer under Nguyen  and she had been concerned  he  would stop coaching her if she didnât respond.
In late June  police arrested  Nguyen . Then they learned Quicksilverâs head coach and USA Swimming officials had known about some of Nguyenâs behavior in March. In California  coaches are mandatory reporters and must inform authorities within 36 hours of learning of suspected sex crimes involving children.
USA Swimming spokesman Matthew Farrell said it took two months for the Olympic sports organization to report  Nguyen  to police because it took time to collect the text messages. When asked whether USA Swimming or the club should have handled the report differently  Farrell replied: âIâm not aware of any substantive changes that USA Swimming or the club would make.â