John Geddert

John Gerald Geddert (born December 21, 1957) is a former American gymnastics coach. He coached Olympic champion Jordyn Wieber[1] and was a head coach for the London 2012 US Olympic Gymnastics Team. He was a long-time associate of sex offender Larry Nassar. Geddert himself was accused of physical and psychological abuse; one day after USA Gymnastics announced suspension of Geddert's membership pending investigation into the abuse allegations, Geddert retired from coaching.[2]

John Geddert
Born (1957-12-21) December 21, 1957
Michigan, United States
EducationAlpena High School
(1974–76)
Alma materCentral Michigan University
(Class of 1980)
Years active1976–2018
Known forCoach of Jordyn Wieber, ties to USA Gymnastics’ “Larry Nassar Scandal”
Spouse(s)Kathryn Geddert
Children3
AwardsUSA National Coach of the Year
(2007)
Notable Gymnasts
Thema Williams
Jordyn Wieber

Gymnastics clubs

From 1984, Geddert was head coach at Great Lakes Gymnastics in the Lansing area of Michigan, where he first worked with Larry Nassar.[3] In 1996, Geddert founded the Twistars USA Gymnastics Club in Dimondale.[4] The club has a back room, where Nassar regularly treated and sexually molested young female athletes.[5] In 2018, Geddert handed over ownership and management of the gym to his wife, Kathryn, in the wake of the Nassar sex abuse scandal.[6]

Coaching style

Many former gymnasts have described Geddert's coaching style as intense, strict, and abusive. Several former gymnasts have recounted that Geddert repeatedly told them to kill themselves.[7][8] He was known to throw items in his gym when angered. On one occasion, Geddert shoved a gymnast forcefully enough for her to sustain a black eye, ruptured lymph nodes in her neck, and torn muscles in her stomach.[8] In 2013, Geddert was under criminal investigation for his abusive treatment of gymnasts. The Eaton County Prosecutor's office stated there was enough evidence to charge Geddert, but allowed Geddert to seek counseling instead.[8] In December 2013, a former employee of Geddert contacted USA Gymnastics to inform them of Geddert's abuse of his athletes. USA Gymnastics stated they addressed the letter writer's concerns with Geddert, though the specific actions by USA Gymnastics were never made public.[9] Geddert retired from coaching on January 23, 2018, one day after USA Gymnastics announced that he was suspended pending an investigation into his alleged abuse.[2]

Involvement in US sexual abuse scandal

Geddert's long-time association with Larry Nassar, who was sued for sexually assaulting 150+ women and girls, has caused legal troubles for Geddert.[10] Geddert and Nassar's close personal and professional relationships have led some to suspect that Geddert was aware of Nassar's abuse but did nothing about it. Many former gymnasts and parents have asserted that the intense and abusive environment Geddert created in his gym allowed for Nassar, a quiet and seemingly gentle doctor who regularly volunteered at Geddert's gym, to easily groom gymnasts and gain their trust. Several gymnasts have admitted that Geddert created such a hostile environment that they were unable to approach Geddert about the abuse.[9] At least one former gymnast testified that Geddert walked in on a supposed medical session while Nassar was digitally penetrating her. The witness stated that Geddert joked about her injury then left the room.[11]

See also

References
  1. http://region5.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/John-Geddert-Biography.pdf
  2. Turner, Amanda (January 22, 2018). "USAG Suspends Coach Geddert After Abuse Allegations". International Gymnast Magazine Online. Retrieved January 23, 2018.
  3. Barr, John (25 April 2019). "Gymnastics club settles Nassar suit for $2.1M". ESPN.com. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  4. Lacy, Eric (9 February 2018). "Accomplished, controversial coach: A timeline of John Geddert's career in gymnastics". Lansing State Journal. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  5. "Police search home, gym of coach John Geddert, who worked with Larry Nassar". ESPN. Associated Press. 22 January 2020. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  6. Banta, Megan (31 January 2020). "Twistars, Gedderts would pay $2.1 million on top of USA Gymnastics settlement with Nassar survivors". Lansing State Journal. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  7. "Ex-gymnast: Geddert 'deserves to be in jail'". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2018-01-25.
  8. WILX. "Survivors accuse Geddert of abuse". Retrieved 2018-01-25.
  9. "Owner of popular Twistars Gymnastics Club faces abuse allegations". WLNS. 2018-01-17. Retrieved 2018-01-18.
  10. "OTL: Michigan State among those that enabled serial sex abuser". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2018-01-18.
  11. Leonard, Tod. "Hot reads: Gymnastics doctor faces the victims he sexually abused". sandiegouniontribune.com. Retrieved 2018-01-18.
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