Gary Colliander, named the Paralympics coach of the Year in 2018 by Team USA, has been put on leave by the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) after The Associated Press reported that young biathlete Grace Boutot attempted suicide following sexual abuse.
The USOPC Chief of Sport & Athlete Services, Rocky Harris, sent an email to the national biathlon team following the report, addressing the “concerning allegations of abuse”, raised by several athletes.
“We want to commend these athletes for their immense courage and strength in coming forward,” the email said. “Effective immediately, we have placed a USOPC staff member on administrative leave pending an internal investigation.”
The USOPC has issued no official statement on the matter.
Earlier, AP reported that Boutot started to train under Colliander at 15. According to a treatment summary by therapist Jacqueline Pauli-Ritz, the coach initially gave her a lot of inappropriate attention with long hugs and kissing, which escalated to “kissing, sexual fondling and oral sex”.
Boutot asked Colliander to stop but he ignored, as per the report. In fact, the coach warned her against telling anyone, saying it would ruin his biathlon career.
“He did not do this until after the suicide attempt,” Pauli-Ritz wrote, referring to Boutot’s October. 7, 2010, overdose on antidepressants while at a training camp in Soldier Hollow, Utah, the AP report said.
Note: If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, it’s crucial to reach out for support. Here are some important helplines for suicide prevention:
International Helplines
- United States:
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988 (Available 24/7)
- United Kingdom:
- Samaritans: 116 123 (Available 24/7)
- Canada:
- Crisis Services Canada: 1-833-456-4566 (Available 24/7)
- Text 45645 (Available 24/7)
- Australia:
- Lifeline Australia: 13 11 14 (Available 24/7)
- India:
- Viswas Helpline: 91-9152987821 (Available 24/7)
- Snehi Foundation: 91-22-2772 6771 / 91-22-2772 6773 (Available 24/7)
- New Zealand:
- Lifeline New Zealand: 0800 543 354 (Available 24/7)
- South Africa:
- Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0800 567 567 (Available 24/7)
Other Resources
- Texting Services: Many countries offer texting support services, which can be less intimidating for some people than speaking on the phone.
- Online Chat: Some organizations offer online support or chat services for people who may feel more comfortable typing their concerns.
It’s important to remember that there is always help available, and reaching out to these resources can be an important step toward feeling better.