Nyad: My swimming coach molested me

Diana Nyad, my more accomplished colleague in commentary at KCRW, talks in today's segment about being sexually abused by her swim coach. The news peg is an ABC report that 36 USA Swimming coaches abused their athletes over the last decade. From Nyad's script for The Score.

USA Swimming conducted an investigation on my case and reported to me, after months of extensive interviews, that although my recounting of the events was entirely credible, they could not establish the kind of evidence that would support a criminal prosecution. And short of criminal proceedings, they deemed it inappropriate to keep him from coaching young girls up and down the coast of Florida, where he molested many.

[skip]

Listen, my days are filled with joy and privilege. But every life has its hardships. Every single one of us knows heartache. My down time was being molested at a time I was dreaming of becoming the best swimmer in the world, by the coach who I thought admired me and shared in my dream. I was terrified. I was humiliated. I was confused. But I can tell you that I had no earthly concept of just how deep the imprint would burn, how long the emotional ramifications would endure.

Nyad's pieces air Thursdays at 4:44 p.m.