This archive report was first published on 22 August 2019.
On Wednesday, the U.S. Center for SafeSport, a nonprofit organization created to investigate abuse of athletes, announced that Richard Callaghan, a 73-year-old figure skating coach, had been permanently barred from the sport for sexual misconduct.
Callaghan, who has long denied any wrongdoing, was first accused publicly of sexual misconduct involving a minor in 1999. The accusations were dismissed at the time by U.S. Figure Skating because they had not been filed within 60 days of when the abuse was said to have occurred.
However, the case received renewed scrutiny when SafeSport was formed in 2017, and Callaghan was suspended from skating in March 2018. The decision to bar Callaghan permanently was announced on the 20th anniversary of the initial accusations.
Callaghan is best known for coaching Tara Lipinski to an Olympic gold medal in 1998 and coaching Todd Eldredge to a world championship and six United States titles. However, his legacy has been marred by allegations of sexual misconduct.
“I feel finally vindicated,” said Craig Maurizi, a former student of Callaghan’s who accused him of abuse in 1999. “This guy’s a monster. This man has ruined the lives and careers of many people. I believe he should be punished to whatever extent is possible.”
Callaghan was also named as a defendant in a lawsuit filed by Adam Schmidt, a former skater who said he had been abused by Callaghan starting at age 14. U.S. Figure Skating was also named as a defendant in the suit.
“Now he will be forever known as the predator who delivered medals to a corrupt organization who accepted them in exchange for the safety and protection of children,” said Schmidt in a statement.
The ban against Callaghan follows recent public accusations of sexual assault made by two female skaters against John Coughlin, a two-time national pairs champion, who died by suicide in January after being suspended from the sport.
