A 16-month investigation made public on Tuesday decided that youngster sexual abuse accusations towards Ted Nash, a two-time Olympic medalist and nine-time Olympic coach for the US who had mythic standing in his sport over many years, have been credible and that his foremost accuser had no motive to lie concerning the abuse.
The 154-page report by the regulation agency Shearman & Sterling, which U.S. Rowing, the game’s governing physique in the US, requested to look at claims towards Mr. Nash, discovered that Jennifer Fox, now 64 and a filmmaker who lives in Manhattan, was plausible when she mentioned that Mr. Nash had groomed her for a sexual relationship and sexually assaulted her a number of occasions greater than 50 years in the past. She was 13 then and he was her 40-year-old working coach.
The abuse, which lasted a few yr, resulted in 1973, mentioned Ms. Fox, whose 2018 movie “The Story” depicted her reminiscences of the abuse however didn’t identify Mr. Nash. He died at 88 in 2021.
Jan Nash, his widow, didn’t instantly reply to voice messages and texts in search of remark. Final yr, she informed The New York Instances that she was shocked and saddened by the accusations and mentioned that “it’s simply not honest” for Ms. Fox to call Ted now that he can’t defend himself.
The report particularly said that the regulation agency was not tasked with discovering proof that met any authorized normal of proof for the abuse. However after the agency interviewed roughly 47 witnesses who interacted with Mr. Nash or Ms. Fox, it mentioned its inquiry corroborated lots of her allegations towards him. Additionally, the investigation didn’t discover proof that “expressly refutes” her accusations or a motive for her to lie concerning the abuse, the report mentioned.
The accusations towards Mr. Nash, who had served as a father determine to lots of his athletes over time, each on and off the water, have been made public in 2023 when Ms. Fox informed her story to The New York Instances.
Her claims shook the game and led a former elite feminine rower to return ahead to the regulation agency to explain a sexual advance by Mr. Nash when he coached her in more moderen years. She was over 18 and he was greater than 35 years her senior, the report mentioned, when Mr. Nash visited her condo underneath the guise of bringing her some dwelling décor. He grabbed her by the neck and tried to kiss her, the report mentioned.
On Tuesday, on account of the regulation agency’s findings, U.S. Rowing rescinded the honors it awarded him, together with the 2005 Man of the Yr and its highest honor, the Medal of Honor, given to him in 2013 for “conspicuous service” and “extraordinary feats” within the sport.
Ms. Fox mentioned in a phone interview on Tuesday that the report and U.S. Rowing’s subsequent actions had given her a way of closure. It’s what she had hoped for, she mentioned, as a result of it sends a powerful messages to individuals who commit intercourse crimes towards youngsters.
“Even when we don’t get you in life, we’ll get you in dying,” she mentioned, referring to Mr. Nash’s dying three years in the past. “Your legacy could be ruined.”
A press release on U.S. Rowing’s web site mentioned: “Whereas we perceive that this final result could also be tough for some members of our neighborhood, our dedication to a protected setting, freed from abuse for the rowing neighborhood, is unwavering.”
The way forward for Mr. Nash’s Olympic medals — a gold in 1960 and a bronze in 1964 — stays unsure. The Worldwide Olympic Committee, which is predicated in Switzerland, didn’t reply to an e mail requesting clarification.