Bridget Namiotka said in 2019 that John Coughlin, her partner in the pair, sexually assaulted her for two years when she was a teenager, know her death reason and obituary
Bridget Namiotka, a 32-year-old former world and national champion in pairs figure skating, died. The medal-winning athlete accused two-time US National Pairs Champion John Coughlin of sexual assault in May 2019.
Figure Skater Bridget Namiotka Passed Away, Obituary, Age, Biography, Family, Partner, Photos And John Coughlin News
the news about bridget namiotka is absolutely heartbreaking. remember how many people attacked her, including john coughlinโs agent who called her โunstableโ. rest in peace, bridget, you will be missed and never forgotten for your bravery
— Bronwyn (@inabauers) October 7, 2022
cw: death, addiction, sexual abuse
Heartbreaking news. Our condolences to Bridgetโs family and friends. https://t.co/kJN8Nr7PDx https://t.co/nu6EYCjAa7
— Anything GOEs (@AnythingGOE) October 7, 2022
In an interview with USA TODAY, her parents confirmed the news, saying that Bridget succumbed to her lengthy battle with addiction after several incredibly trying years of dealing with the trauma of sexual abuse. The olympian came forward on May 19, 2019, in a Facebook post, claiming that Coughlin had sexually assaulted her for two years while she was just a teen.
Coughlin committed suicide before
She had left a remark on a page in favour of Coughlin, 33, who committed suicide on January 18, 2019. She apologised but John harmed at least ten others, including her, Namiotka penned. Coughlin mistreated her sexually for two years. She said in a series of messages that someone who is innocent doesn’t hang himself. She told he did to at least 10 girls, keeping the victims in mind.
From 2004 through 2007, Namiotka and Coughlin competed as a team, winning three medals in the Junior Grand Prix series and placing ninth in the senior (Olympic) division at the 2007 US National Championships.
One day after being threatened with an interim suspension from the US Center for Safesport, Coughlin, who had previously won two US pairs titles with two other partners, hung himself in his father’s Kansas City home. According to USA TODAY Sports, the 33-year-old was the subject of three allegations of sexual assault, and his passing in February 2019 put a halt to any further SafeSport investigations.
Ashley Wagner is also a victim of Coughlinโs sexual abuse.
Olympic figure skater Ashley Wagner, the 2016 world silver winner and all-time most accomplished US female skater, was the second victim to publicly accuse Coughlin of sexual abuse. Wagner informed USA TODAY Sports that Coughlin sexually attacked her in June 2008 during a party at a national team camp in Colorado, when she had just turned 17 and he was 22. This occurred less than three months after Namiotka’s Facebook posts.