Efforts to stop athlete abuse

Athlete abuse is not just an American problem, it is an International one as well. Reports from Japan, Canada and Kenya to name a few countries are shedding light on the need to address the issue.

In Kenya, Olympic runner Anges Tirop was brutally killed by her partner. The violent stabbing is now forcing the country to address the abuse by partners, coaches and others.

In Japan, the suicide rate among teenage athletes is alarming. In a Human Rights Watch story, the group cites at least 121 children dying during judo training in Japanese schools between the period 1983 and 2021. As a result, Athletes Against Abuse has been formed in an effort to stop the abuse faced by athletes and to create a zero tolerance policy of abuse in sports.

In Canada, Waneek Horn-Miller, former co-captain of Canada's women's water polo team is asking for inquiry into amateur sport in Canada to address systemic sexual, physical and verbal abuse of athletes.

She is quoted as stating, "You have a dream of becoming an Olympian and you are extraordinarily vulnerable. The power is held within the coach's hand. You will do anything, anything to get your Olympic dream. It is an obsession that makes you vulnerable to all kinds of abuse."

Finally, in the United States, Bridget Namioktka, a former national and international medal-winning pairs figure skater, claimed she was a sexual abuse victim of US national pairs champion John Coughlin. Namiotka died at age 32 from the trauma and struggles brought about by the sexual abuse.

According to USA TODAY Sports, Coughlin was under investigation for three allegations of sexual misconduct at the time he took his life.