A revelation that tarnishes American gold.
USA Snowboard Team Coach Peter Foley, at the Beijing Olympics, has been accused of sexual harassment and inappropriate behavior by former snowboarder Callan Chythlook-Sifsof in Instagram posts Friday.
The snowboarder, who will turn 33 on February 14, claims that “Peter Foley has been taking pictures of sportswomen for more than ten years” and that he allegedly made comments of a sexual nature to her and another member of the American Olympic team, in Lake Louise (Canada) in 2014.
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A post shared by Callan Chythlook-Sifsof (@callanthegreat)
“I can no longer watch the Olympics without saying so publicly,” said the American on the social network.
Contacted by AFP, the American Olympic Committee has not yet responded.
“We take these accusations very seriously and are currently investigating,” the American Ski and Snowboard Federation told several American media.
Peter Foley received support from the two gold medalists of the day in the mixed team snowboardcross event on Saturday.
After his victory, Nick Baumgartner spoke of Foley "like a father".
"It's been amazing to watch him grow as a person and as a coach," said the veteran American snowboarder, crowned at 40.
And to have him by my side to progress as an athlete.
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“I can only say good things about this man - he has done so much for us.
All the best times of my life have been with this gentleman,” he added.
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Suspicions of racism
Lindsey Jacobellis, she blasted the timing of these accusations.
"It's super annoying to have that when you're trying to concentrate and it obviously messed up the team's energy a bit.
From the height of my 20-year career, I can only say good things about him and he has always supported me when needed,” added Jacobellis, double Olympic champion in Beijing (individual and team).
In addition, Chythlook-Sifsof also implicates a snowboarder present in China, Hagen Kearney, whom she accuses of having used a racist expression against him and of having engaged in acts of harassment.
"Things that weren't normal have become normal"
"I won't keep these things silent any longer," she said on Instagram.
“There has been widespread bizarre behavior.
The people I identified behaved in a toxic way but the truth is that the culture within the team protected this kind of behavior.
Things that weren't normal became normal.
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“Other athletes engaged in racist and misogynistic behavior and actively participated in the bizarre dynamic that Peter Foley created that resulted in sexual violence against female athletes and team members.
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Callan Chythlook-Sifsof was part of the American snowboarding team present at the Olympic Games in Vancouver (Canada) in 2010 and was eliminated in qualifying.
Peter Foley has coached the USA Snowboard Team since 1994.
