The world of biathlon is facing serious allegations as the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) places coach Gary Colliander on administrative leave following revelations of his alleged sexual abuse against young athletes. The Associated Press has highlighted the harrowing account of Grace Boutot, one of several biathletes coming forward to share their experiences with systemic abuse within the sport.
According to Rocky Harris, the USOPC chief of sport and athlete services, the committee is taking these allegations seriously, commending the athletes for their "immense courage and strength" to speak out. Harris addressed the national team members, acknowledging the "concerning allegations of abuse" and emphasizing the importance of athlete safety. The committee stated, "Effective immediately, we have placed a USOPC staff member on administrative leave pending an internal investigation." Although Colliander was not named directly by Harris, he is the focal point of the allegations reported.
Boutot, who was first coached by Colliander at the young age of 15, shared her story of how his seemingly benign guidance morphed over time. What started as friendly attentiveness escalated to inappropriate physical contact and sexual advances after she turned 18. Reflecting on her time with Colliander, she recounts, "I didn’t think he would do anything to hurt me." But the trust she placed in him turned to distress. Withdrawal from competition followed her distressing experiences, marked by severe depression and suicide attempts, as detailed by her therapist, Jacqueline Pauli-Ritz.
After the coach's unwanted advances became unbearable, Boutot attempted suicide on October 7, 2010, during training at Soldier Hollow, Utah. Following the incident, Colliander resigned only to later accept another coaching position with the U.S. Paralympics. Boutot expressed her feeling of abandonment, stating, "This person who I trusted really wronged me, and that's been really hard to wrap my mind around." Her revelations have drawn attention to the mismanagement of athlete welfare at U.S. Biathlon.
U.S. Biathlon CEO Jack Gierhart later acknowledged the troubling allegations but faced criticism for the organization's inadequate responses over the years. "We are deeply concerned about the experiences of the athletes mentioned. To all of you, I want to reaffirm our commitment to athlete safety," Gierhart wrote. Critics, including Boutot, claim the organization has been more focused on preserving its image rather than safeguarding athletes, with Boutot asserting, "The true origin of the misogynistic culture lies with U.S. Biathlon. The silence is stunning, to be honest."
These allegations echo across decades within the sport. Multiple former Olympians and biathletes have expressed their trauma, painting a picture of systemic abuse often ignored or dismissed by leadership. This culture, they say, allowed perpetrators to rise through the ranks unchecked.
Joan Wilder, another biathlete with experiences of sexual misconduct, stated, "My safety on the team was clearly secondary to a top-down power structure focused on image, medals, and marketing." Her plea to the organization yielded little to no response, illustrating the troubling pattern of negligence. After filing complaints about her own experiences, she recounts feeling targeted as a "problem" athlete rather than receiving support.
Despite the USOPC's recent actions, the underlying issues remain entrenched. An independent investigation ordered by U.S. Biathlon following the Associated Press report confirmed athletes faced substantial misogyny, often dreading retaliation for speaking out. The auditor’s assessment underscored the problematic environment, marked by male dominance and disregard for female athletes.
Both collusion and silence have plagued the sport. Athletes like Boutot contend they were ostracized and faced backlash after attempting to report their abuse. Boutot recalled, "I was ostracized. I received hate mail from my teammates." Her fight for acknowledgment culminated when she settled with the Maine Winter Sports Center for $75,000 due to their failure to adequately address her complaints.
Now, as SafeSport vows to investigate these claims thoroughly, Boutot hopes her decision to speak out will inspire positive change within U.S. Biathlon's culture. She asserts, "I love the sport of biathlon. I sincerely hope...this being bookends to a darker period —that it never happens again." The U.S. Biathlon leadership's commitment to implementing workshops and core values aims to redefine its accountability structure following this rising outcry from past athletes.
With these revelations, the future of U.S. Biathlon's organizational integrity hangs in the balance. The challenge remains how to genuinely prioritize athlete safety and rebuild trust among its community. The community is faced with the urgent call not only to address past grievances but to establish lasting protections for athletes moving forward.
