All about gymnastic coach John Geddert who died by suicide after sexual assault charges

John Geddert was a
former US Gymnasium coach who coached the 2012 US women’s Olympic
gymnastics team called Fierce Five. The team won a gold medal. He is also
famous for coaching Olympic champion, Jordyn Wieber. He won the USA National
Coach of the Year Award in 2007.

He
retired in 2018 after being suspended by US Gymnastics due to his association
with Larry Nassar, the disgraced former gymnastics physician. After getting convicted, he committed suicide on February 25, 2021. 

Also Read: Former US Olympics gymnastics coach charged with sexual abuse

Geddert was the head coach for Great Lakes Gymnastics in the
Lansing area of Michigan in 1984. He did his education from Central Michigan
University.

In 1996, Geddert founded the US Twistars USA Gymnastics Club
in Dimondale, Eaton County of Michigan. The gym had a back room which was used
by sex offender Larry Nassar to volunteer as the team doctor. Nassar has been
convicted for sexually assaulting over 150 female athletes. It is believed that
Geddert was aware of Nassar’s various acts of abuse and did nothing to stop it.

The 63-year-old has been accused of creating a strict hostile
environment for athletes. Around 200 women and girls have said they had to
endure verbal and physical abuse by Geddert. Many victims have said that former
coach used to train them too hard which forced them to seek treatment from Nassar,
making them easy targets.

While Geddert denied having any knowledge about Nassar’s abuse, he has
also been accused of making false statements during Nassar’s investigation.

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He has also been accused of human trafficking because
“he reportedly subjected his athletes to forced labour or services under
extreme conditions that contributed to them suffering injuries and harm.”
He has been charged for allegedly trafficking 15 athletes for financial gains.

Geddert has been targeted in a 24-count
complaint unveiled by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel.