The Pittsburgh Incident: Vitaly Marinitch Accused of Assault
GymCastic: The Gymnastics Podcast
GymCastic: The Gymnastics Podcast
4.7 • 1.5K Ratings
🗓️ 22 February 2017
⏱️ 43 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
THIS WEEK'S INTERVIEW
If you are a regular listener, you know that USA Gymnastics is embroiled in a massive sexual abuse scandal that was first brought to light by the Indianapolis Star in the summer of 2016. Today’s show will focus on an incident that illustrates the compounded fear athlete victims have when their life’s work is at stake.
On Sunday, August 24, 2014 after the P&G Championships in Pittsburgh, Olympic hopeful Steven Legendre and his wife Alaina went to the hotel bar. It was there that Alaina alleges U.S. Olympic Training Center men’s coach, Vitaly Marinitch sexually assaulted her. Since the incident isn’t mentioned as a catalyst for Vitaly's stated voluntary resignation, the Legendres have decided to publicly share their story to offer greater transparency to the sport they love and have dedicated their lives to.
Alaina Legendre (née Williams) was a U.S. trampoline national team member for six years and national champion several times over. Steven Legendre is an assistant coach at the University of Oklahoma, an NCAA champion and multi-World medalist.
RELATED LINKS
Wall Street Journal investigation reveals that USA Gymnastics delayed reporting Larry Nassar for five weeks.
IndyStar investigation A 20-year toll: 368 gymnasts allege sexual exploitation.
USA Gymnastics Code of Ethical Conduct for coaches section F(3) states: Members of USA Gymnastics must ensure that the sport is conducted in an environment free of drug or alcohol abuse. It is inconsistent with this obligation for any member to abuse alcohol in the presence of athletes or at USA Gymnastics' activities.
60 Minutes Former Gymnasts Allege Sexual Abuse.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | I can't stand by and like continue to see them purposely hide stuff and know that it's more than likely going to keep happening whether it be with |
| 0:09.4 | Natale or it be another coach or whoever else they might be hiding, I don't know. |
| 0:13.2 | Obviously, if I was fired, he didn't just willingly, you know, resign and put his great job that he's |
| 0:19.5 | had for how many years now, he was fired for whatever reason even with you know this |
| 0:26.1 | sexual sexual abuse sexual assault incident attached in his name they still |
| 0:31.7 | refuse to just say, yes, we fired him. |
| 0:35.4 | I can't imagine that happening with my daughter and that's what makes me emotional is |
| 0:41.0 | staking. |
| 0:42.0 | Because something like that, I haven't to my daughter. me emotional is thinking. |
| 0:43.0 | It's something like that happened to my daughter |
| 0:46.0 | and nothing being done. |
| 0:48.0 | This is episode 241 for February 22nd, 2017. |
| 0:54.0 | If you're a regular listener, you know that USA Gymnastics |
| 0:56.8 | is embroiled in a massive sexual abuse scandal |
| 0:59.5 | that was first brought to light |
| 1:00.6 | by the Indianapolis Star newspaper in the summer of 2016. |
| 1:04.1 | Today's show will focus on an incident that illustrates the compounded fear |
| 1:08.1 | athlete victims have when their life's work is at stake. |
| 1:11.7 | I talked over half a dozen athletes involved in the men's program for this story, |
| 1:16.6 | and it's clear that many athletes aren't happy with how USA Gymnastics handles accusations |
| 1:21.3 | of misconduct. The story you will hear revolves around a beloved coach. |
| 1:25.8 | Almost all mentioned what an amazing coach he is and some even said they love him. |
... |
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