Maggie Haney

USA Gymnastics officials first received abuse complaints against Haney in 2016.[8] In August 2019, it was announced Haney was under investigation by USA Gymnastics over allegations of verbal and emotional abuse.[9] At least a half dozen families filed complaints against Haney, alleging that she instructed injured gymnasts to remove casts and continue training, as well as screaming at and threatening gymnasts.[10] On February 3, 2020, her hearing on the allegations began. She was suspended from coaching minor athletes pending the outcome of the hearing.[10]

During the hearing, testimony was given regarding major injuries suffered by Haney's athletes. Her two most prominent students, Laurie Hernandez and Riley McCusker, both testified - Hernandez verbally, and McCusker through a written statement.[11] McCusker, a World champion trained by Haney, suffered rhabdomyolysis, a muscle condition linked to overtraining, in 2019.[8] The hearing lasted thirteen days over two months - February and March.[12] In March, USA Gymnastics suspended Victoria Levine, a coach and co-owner of MG Elite Gymnastics, due to allegations that she also was verbally abusive to athletes.[13]

After the hearing, further details of the testimony came to light. Haney pulled gymnasts by their hair, swore and screamed at them - often calling them "retarded" - and threatened to commit suicide if top gymnasts left her program.[12] Haney pressured gymnasts to remove casts and train or compete while injured.[10][12] Parents were not allowed in the gymnastic club during practices, and Haney warned gymnasts not to complain about her coaching methods to their parents. When gymnasts made mistakes in training, Haney kicked them out of the gym. Gymnasts hid their menstrual periods from Haney, who told them that menstruating was proof that they were too fat. Gymnasts reported suffering from anxiety, depression and eating disorders due to Haney's abuse.[12]

In one incident, Haney and her assistant coach Victoria Levine refused to spot a gymnast as she attempted a new skill on the uneven bars. The gymnast fell and struck her head against exposed concrete before landing in a foam pit. Haney and Levine laughed at the gymnast until they realized she was having seizures. The gymnast had two skull fractures.[12]

USA Gymnastics claimed that the hearing panel would release a decision on April 22, then said there was a calendar error, and the decision would be made public on April 29.[14] On April 29, Haney was suspended for eight years by USA Gymnastics for verbally and emotionally abusing gymnasts.[15][16][17] She is prohibited from coaching USA Gymnastics athletes during this period,[15][17] cannot contact the claimants, and cannot attend USA Gymnastics events unless accompanying her gymnast daughter.[11] She may reapply for membership after her eight-year suspension, but must go through an additional two-year probationary period and complete Safe Sport courses.[11][17][18]