Former gymnast who accused ex-Olympic coach of abuse: ‘I do not feel closure whatsoever’

by Jordan Williams - 02/27/21 12:46 PM ET

A former gymnast who accused ex-Olympic coach John Geddert of abuse says she does not feel closure after Geddert’s death.

In an interview with NBC News, Sarah Klein said she felt relieved when Geddert was charged with dozens of counts of human trafficking and sexual assault. However, she felt devastated after he died by suicide.

“I do not feel closure whatsoever,” she told the news outlet.

Klein accused Geddert of “physically, verbally, emotionally and psychologically” abusing her starting when she was 8 years old.

She told NBC that Geddert’s suicide was “devastating and traumatizing, [but] there is no greater admission of guilt than John Geddert taking his own life.”

“It was his final act of narcissistic control with which he lived his life and coached his gymnasts for decades,” Klein told the news outlet.

Klein further said that Geddert “has always been above the law and the rules have never applied to him,” adding that she believes his final act was “intended to be an insult to victims.”

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel (D) announced on Thursday that her office was notified that Geddert’s body was found “after taking his own life.”

Geddert was supposed to turn himself in to be arraigned at 2:15 p.m. on Thursday.

“This is a tragic end to a story for everyone involved,” Nessel said in a statement at the time.

The suicide came hours the attorney general filed 24 criminal charges against him, the majority of which were related to human trafficking.

Nessel’s office alleged that Geddert subjected athletes to work in environments that caused them to suffer injuries and neglected the injuries that athletes suffered.

He was also accused of lying to investigators regarding the criminal sexual conduct of physician Larry Nassar, who was Geddert’s team physician. Nassar is currently serving decades in prison for criminal sexual misconduct.

Klein told NBC that USA Gymnastics and the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) have to be held accountable.

The Hill has reached out to USA Gymnastics and USOPC for comment.