John Geddert was the coach of the women’s team that won gold for the USA at the London 2012 Olympics; Geddert had links to former team doctor Larry Nassar, who received an effective life sentence in 2018 after being charged with abuse by more than 250 athletes – Simone Biles among them
The Reuters
Last updated: 25/02/21 10:57 pm
John Geddert led the American women’s athletics team to Olympic gold in London 2012
Former U.S. Athletic coach John Geddert has died in suicide after several allegations of human trafficking and sexual assault.
Police found the body of the 63-year-old man, linked to a disgraced doctor Larry Nassar, just hours after he was charged with two dozen crimes Thursday.
Geddert was the head coach of the 2012 U.S. Women’s Olympic athletics team that won gold.
According to court documents filed in Eaton County, Michigan, Geddert was charged with 20 counts of human trafficking, one count of first-degree sexual assault, one count of second-degree sexual assault, campaign criminal and lying to a police officer.
In a statement, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said: “My office was informed that John Geddert ‘s body was found late in the afternoon after he had taken his own life. This is a sad end to a fascinating story. to everyone involved. “
Geddert owned the Lansing-area Twistars USA Athletic Club for major athletes where Nassar handled athletes.
Both charges of sexual assault arise from an incident in 2012, court documents showed.
“These allegations focus on multiple acts of oral, physical and sexual abuse committed by the defendant against multiple young women,” Nessel said in an earlier statement.
“I am grateful to those who survived coming forward to collaborate with our study and to heroically share their stories. “
Larry Nassar received two long prison sentences in February 2018 for the dismissal of young female athletes
Rachael Denhollander, the first gymnast to publicly accuse Nassar in 2016, said she was proud of the women who took a step forward against Geddert.
“So much pain and sorrow for everyone,” she said on Twitter after Geddert’s death. “To the survivors, you have been heard and believed, and we stand with you. “
According to the Attorney General’s office, Geddert used his reputation as a coach at Olympic level and promised his parents that he could turn his students into world-class athletes.
The Attorney General’s office, under the direction of coaching, reportedly reported that Geddert led many young women into an environment of persistent abuse, in which he neglected the advice of medical doctors except what Nassar provided, which service for about 20 years as a Geddert team physician.
Geddert was fired by USA Gymnastics in January 2018.
Former U.S. Athletic doctor Nassar in Michigan was given two prison sentences in 2018 of 40 to 125 years and 40 to 175 years for the dismissal of young female athletes.
It also serves a 60-year federal term for child pornography convictions.