U.S. Ski & Snowboard is investigating claims that Peter Foley, longtime Olympic coach, took photos of naked female athletes. Additionally, Olympic snowboard racer Hagen Kearney used racial language to provoke a colleague.
Callan ChythlookSifsof was a former snowboardcross rider and was a member the 2010 Olympic team. posted in an Instagram photo that Foley had taken the photos, but that Foley also made inappropriate comments. Kearney used the N-word repeatedly to “intentionally get beneath my skin,” and that this was a deliberate attempt to “intentionally get underneath my skin.”
Chythlook Sifsof hails from Alaska and describes her self as Yupik, Inupiaq.
Foley and Kearney visited China this week to take part in the Beijing Games.
U.S. Ski & Snowboard issued a statement saying it takes all allegations very seriously. While all allegations are investigated, Peter Foley is still the U.S. Snowboardcross team’s head coach.
Foley stated that he was shocked by the claims in a text sent to The Associated Press.
He continued, “I vehemently refute the allegations.” “I am doing my best to support the athletes at the Olympics.
Kearney, who placed 17th in Thursday’s men’s snowboardcross contest, shared his experience on Instagram, saying that he was expelled from the team following the episode with Chythlook–Sifsof. He later apologized for the incident.
Kearney posted on Instagram, “I didn’t have the same head on mine shoulders back then than I do now”
Lindsey Jacobellis won her second Beijing Games gold medal by teaming up with Nick Baumgartner for Saturday’s mixed snowboardcross. She said that she has never had an issue dealing with Foley.
Jacobellis stated, “I can talk highly of his character. He’s always supported me through all that I’ve been through.”
In an Instagram post, Chythlook Sifsof described the events of 2014.
She wrote, “I can’t watch another Olympic Games without saying it publicly.”
In a statement, the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee stated that they take allegations of sexual misconduct very seriously and follow protocols to ensure it’s reported and managed correctly.
The U.S. Center for SafeSport investigates all cases. It was established in 2017 to address harassment and abuse allegations within U.S.-based sports.