USOPC Fires Coach and Director Amid Sexual Abuse Allegations Involving Former Biathlete: Report

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In a significant development, the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) has dismissed a coach and a high-ranking director following allegations of sexual abuse involving a former teenage biathlete, as first reported by the Associated Press (AP).

USOPC spokesperson Jon Mason confirmed that coach Gary Colliander and Eileen Carey, a director with the organization, were both let go on March 14, after a thorough internal review.

While Mason declined to reveal specific reasons, he stated that Colliander had been placed on administrative leave in December.

The allegations center around Grace Boutot, who claims she was groomed and sexually abused by Colliander beginning in 2006, when she was just 15 and under his supervision at the Maine Winter Sports Center. According to the AP, the alleged abuse escalated over four years, leading to severe emotional distress and a suicide attempt in 2010.

"My first suicide attempt was in October 2010 after years of abuse," Boutot, now 34, told the AP. "He gave me a lot of attention and it included inappropriate touching. When I turned 18, it escalated to kissing, sexual fondling, and oral sex."

According to a treatment summary by therapist Jacqueline Pauli-Ritz, shared with the AP, Boutot pleaded with Colliander to stop, but he continued. Pauli-Ritz said she contacted Colliander in September 2010, warning him that Boutot was suffering from major depression and urging him to cease coaching her. "He did not do this until after the suicide attempt," the therapist noted, referring to Boutot's overdose on antidepressants during a Utah training camp on October 7, 2010.

Colliander resigned from the Maine center the following day and later joined the U.S. Paralympic Nordic team in 2016, where he served as associate director of high performance before his termination in March.

Carey, who was the Maine Winter Sports Center's vice president during the time of the alleged abuse, reportedly discussed Boutot's condition with the athlete's mother. Carey also later became a coach and director with the U.S. Paralympic team - where she was present when Colliander was hired.

Despite repeated conversations with the Maine center's leadership - including Carey and CEO Andy Shepard - Boutot and her family say no formal investigation was ever conducted.

In an October 22, 2010 email, Boutot's mother, Karen Gorman, urged the center to examine coach-athlete boundaries. Carey responded in an email dated October 25, saying, "I am very supportive of having positive things come out of this situation for everyone involved."

Still, Boutot told the AP, her pleas for accountability were ignored. She later filed a complaint with the Maine Human Rights Commission in 2011, accusing the center of failing to protect her and retaliating by cutting support for her athletic pursuits. The case was settled out of court for $75,000, and she eventually quit competitive biathlon.

Mason told the AP that SafeSport - the U.S. body responsible for handling abuse allegations in Olympic sports - opened an active investigation into Colliander in December. "Please note that Mr. Colliander's case remains active with SafeSport," Mason said.

Simone Montoya, legal counsel for Colliander, said her client was unaware of the reasons for his firing and "adamantly denies any wrongdoing or inappropriate behavior, as alleged." In an email to the AP, she stated: "He denies any conduct in violation of the SafeSport Code or applicable laws and policies and maintains that he has always upheld professional standards throughout his career."

The report also mentioned that efforts to reach Carey for comment were unsuccessful.

This incident comes amid growing scrutiny of abuse in U.S. Olympic sports, especially following the Larry Nassar scandal in gymnastics. Boutot is among several athletes who have spoken up, hoping for systemic change and greater accountability.