Watch It or Pass?

June 24, 2025

Ohio’s History of Abuse Explored in New Documentary

For years, many student-athletes in Ohio faced sexual abuse at the hands of doctors. Survived Ohio is a new documentary available on HBO Max that features interviews with some survivors, shedding light on their experiences. Additionally, it raises questions about whether prominent figures at the university were aware of the abuse occurring.

Key Insights

The basic details of the Ohio sexual abuse scandal are established. Over two decades, Richard Strauss harmed numerous student-athletes. However, a more significant question emerges, which Survived Ohio seeks to investigate. The film includes discussions with media personnel and those connected to the university but primarily focuses on the voices of Strauss’s victims, who bravely share their stories and what they know.

Comparative Films

This situation echoes other recent stories, including Netflix’s Athlete A and HBO’s In the Heart of Gold, which explore abuse in American gymnastics under Larry Nassar, as well as the 2014 documentary Happy Valley, which outlines former Penn State coach Jerry Sandusky’s prolonged abuses.

Araworthy Performance

It’s hard to pinpoint a singular performance, really. The strength of Survived Ohio lies in its direct and unflinching portrayal of Strauss’s misconduct as recounted by former Buckeye wrestlers. Even after many years, they struggle to talk about their experiences, but it’s clear they recognize the importance of sharing their truths.

Impactful Narration

“The Buckeyes are religion,” states the narrator during an opening montage showcasing the excitement around Ohio’s track and field team. “We believed in Ohio State. We believed in scarlet and gray. Until we learned the truth.”

Content Warning

It’s important to note that the documentary contains explicit discussions about sexual abuse and should be approached with care.

Personal Reflection

For those from Central Ohio, the significance of Ohio State is hard to overstate. Though I didn’t attend, I’m from Ohio, having graduated from a high school near Columbus and knowing plenty who studied or worked at the university. It’s woven into the fabric of the community, bordered closely with a sense of local pride and unquestioning trust in the institution.

A local TV news anchor points out, “We’ve always been a Buckeye family. When I dropped my son off at his Ohio State dorm, I couldn’t help but cry, thinking, ‘At least he’s at Ohio State University.’ But that was before realizing that predators could have been allowed on campus for a couple of decades.”

The documentary focuses on Strauss, a doctor at Ohio State from 1978 to 1998, who took his own life in 2005. During his tenure with the athletics department, he is now known to have abused multiple athletes under the guise of medical examinations. While the university has acknowledged the abuse and reached settlements with some survivors, the issue of accountability remains. Survivors allege that those in charge knew about the abuse and either ignored it or actively concealed it. This includes individuals like former assistant wrestling coach and current US national team coach Jim Jordan.

One survivor remembers their mother’s concern: “Did you tell them what we’re uncovering now?” They felt that acknowledging the problem was key.

Another survivor recalls complaining to Jordan about Strauss’s actions, saying, “We kept asking why this guy was always checking us.” Jordan’s reaction supposedly suggested he was aware of what was happening, which contrasts with his public denials.

The university has issued public apologies and provided monetary settlements, but many argue these efforts fall short and that the institution remains resistant to victims.

Survived Ohio may not unveil any shocking new evidence, nor may it provide closure for all who suffered due to Strauss and those who enabled him. However, it paints a grim, thorough picture of an institution that has let down many of its followers.