California Swimming Coach Lawsuit Allowed to Proceed

A significant lawsuit against Terry McKeever, a long-time women’s swimming coach in California, is now moving forward. He’s accused of shaming a swimmer for having suicidal thoughts and telling that swimmer he “ruined” a teammate’s day.

On Tuesday, the Court of Appeals made a notable decision to allow the lawsuit against the University of California Board of Regents from 2024 to continue. Earlier, the case had been dismissed due to the statute of limitations being recognized, but that ruling has now been overturned.

With renewed attention, the lawsuit claims the university overlooked years of serious abuse, ranging from minimizing suicidal ideations to fat-shaming and defamation.

According to the allegations, McKeever confronted one player with the question, “Did you try to kill yourself?” and suggested he hurt a teammate who sought help.

In another instance, when a swimmer took time off after being sexually assaulted, McKeever labeled her as “weak.” The coach was dismissed in 2023 after an investigation by an external law firm confirmed multiple athletes’ claims.

Afterward, she faced a three-month suspension from the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Games and a year on probation for admitting to mistreating California swimmers for over two decades.

The lawsuit also highlights how McKeever allegedly established an environment characterized by “public humiliation, intimidation, isolation, exclusion, fear, and unsafe training conditions.”

She reportedly insulted players by calling them “sluts” and telling them they looked overweight, even making them late to practice and subsequently to class.

A 2022 investigation by the Orange County Register initially revealed these abuse claims, prompting many former swimmers to understand that McKeever’s actions were not just tough coaching but abusive behavior.

The investigation included testimonies from 19 former and current swimmers, six parents, and a former men’s team member, portraying McKeever as “a bully who verbally and emotionally abused athletes for many years.”

A three-judge panel from California’s First Appellate District referred to this investigation in their ruling and stated that the case could advance under discovery rules, allowing plaintiffs time to realize the extent of harm they suffered.

As noted in the ruling, “Plaintiffs acknowledged that they were aware they were suffering due to McKeever’s coaching while part of the team. However, they claim they didn’t recognize that her actions constituted anything apart from legitimate, challenging coaching. They didn’t realize that McKeever was engaging in misconduct.”