As athletes, we trust our coaches, trainers, and medical providers to act professionally and keep us safe. As a former professional athlete herself, Michelle Simpson Tuegel understands the physical and mental strength it takes to excel in sports. The countless hours spent training and competing, overcoming injuries, and learning how to accept defeat and persevere can be a lot to navigate, but being guided by mentors that care about your success and well-being can make all the difference in an athlete’s personal experience.

Far too often, however, authority figures take advantage of their positions of power and betray that trust. Abuse in sports is not limited to a single sport or type of athletes. Athletes of any age or gender can experience abuse, and it is not uncommon for the abuse to occur in plain sight.

According to research conducted by Child Help, 40% to 50% of athletes have experienced some form of abuse throughout their athletic career, and 2% to 8% of athletes have reported being impacted by sexual abuse in their sport. Unsurprisingly, 90% of child athletes abused know their perpetrator in some way. The actual number of athletes who have experienced sexual abuse is likely much higher as many individuals who are abused never come forward.

Athletes are often trained to push through physical pain and keep competing regardless of how they’re feeling. Our team has seen how that culture of pushing down your pain and feelings often translates into how athletes deal with the aftermath of experiencing abuse, resulting in survivors pushing away their discomfort in order to continue succeeding in their sport. Athletes may also fear that they will face retaliation in their sport if they come forward about their abuse, and the thought of that alone is enough to silence many survivors.

The problem of sexual abuse in sports also extends far beyond the individual perpetrators. Often, leadership and individuals within the national governing bodies of various sports, other staff members within the sports facility, including additional coaches, doctors, trainers, or even management personnel, are privy to signs of inappropriate behavior or become directly aware of the abuse.

These individuals may observe boundary violations, such as a coach spending excessive one-on-one time with an athlete, or they might notice an athlete’s behavioral changes that suggest distress. In some cases, they may even be explicitly informed about instances of abuse by other witnesses or complaining athletes. However, instead of taking the necessary steps to intervene or report the issue, they may choose to remain silent.

Survivors deserve to hold not only the abuser accountable but also the adults and institutions who often allowed the abuse to go on for years unchallenged. We represent clients in cases involving coaches, trainers, physicians, team members, and sports organizations who have either perpetrated abuse or failed to act when abuse was reported. If you or a loved one was abused as an athlete, no matter the sport, we will help bring you or your loved ones the justice they deserve.

Our expertise

As a leading advocate for survivors of sexual abuse in sports, Michelle Simpson Tuegel is uniquely equipped to handle the complexities that arise in these cases. Drawing from her legal expertise and personal experience as a world-ranked athlete in slalom water skiing, Michelle understands the unique dynamics of power, trust, and vulnerability that exist within the world of competitive sports and the trust athletes place in their coaches and institutions.

Firm founder Michelle Simpson Tuegel competing in slalom water skiing competitions.

Our firm handles a wide array of cases involving sexual abuse in sports, from local community organizations to major leagues and governing bodies. We have represented survivors of abuse in sports such as gymnastics, cheerleading, jiu jitsu, equestrian events, soccer, volleyball, and more. Whether it’s a coach who has exploited their position or an institution that has turned a blind eye to abuse, we are committed to securing justice for survivors and holding abusers and enabling institutions accountable.

Our aim is not only to secure justice for each individual survivor but also to bring about long-lasting change in the sporting world. By spotlighting and addressing the culture of silence that often surrounds abuse in sports, we hope to contribute to a safer, more transparent environment for all athletes.

USA Gymnastics

Michelle represented over two dozen former USA gymnasts who were sexually abused by USA Gymnastics national team doctor Larry Nassar. She served as one of the lead attorneys and helped negotiate a $380 million settlement with USA Gymnastics, the US Olympic & Paralympic committee, and their insurers in December 2021 – a groundbreaking result after a five-year legal battle.

Firm founder Michelle Simpson Tuegel with USA Gymnasts she represented in their litigation against Larry Nassar.

We are here for you

Coming forward after being sexually abused is very difficult, and it takes a lot of courage to take action and tell your story. There are paths toward justice for you in both the criminal and civil justice systems, and we will help you every step of the way.

If you are in need of representation or simply have questions about a potential path to justice, please reach out using the contact form below. We will approach your case with sensitivity and dedication to get you the answers and outcome you deserve.