Former Olympic Medalist Furious With U.S. Skating Hire
SAN JOSE, CA - JANUARY 05: Ashley Wagner competes in the Ladies Free Skate during the 2018 Prudential U.S. Figure Skating Championships at the SAP Center on January 5, 2018 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
Earlier this week U.S. Figure skating made a controversial hire that was immediately opposed by U.S. Olympian Ashley Wagner.
U.S. Figure Skating hired Kelsey Parker Gislason as its senior manager, high performance development. Wagner opposed the decision because Gislason was a vocal supporter of John Coughlin, whom Wager and three other female skaters accused of sexual assault.
Four year ago U.S. Figure Skating suspended Coughlin, who died by suicide just a day later. Now, his vocal proponent is landing a top seat at the skating federation and Wagner isn't having it.
"Around the time that women including myself were coming forward with our experiences of sexual assault with John Coughlin, this individual was extremely vocal against the truth of our experiences…" Wagner said, via USA Today. "As soon as you put that out on social media, you should become unhireable for certain positions."
"I want to make it clear that in this position, this person is now a mandatory reporter (of sexual assault and sexual abuse to the U.S. Center for SafeSport). And I’m sorry if my trust has been compromised in this person’s ability to believe survivors and approach this and many of these delicate situations of sexual assault with any ounce of respect, dignity or appropriate care."
The three-time national champion, 2014 Olympic team bronze medalist and 2016 world silver medalist is not happy, but U.S. Figure Skating isn't walking back the decision
At least not yet.
