Sarah Ehekircher’s Statement on Her Groomer/Abuser Scott MacFarland’s Removal From the Magnolia Aquatic Club

As noted here yesterday, James Scott MacFarland is definitively out at the Magnolia Aquatic Team outside Houston. Coach-blogger Chris DeSantis wrote on Twitter:

“Scott MacFarland has been removed from the Magnolia Aquatic Club site without explanation. Rumors circulating that he hasn’t been on deck since @irvmuch broke the story and that a resignation followed this past Monday. @truthandkarma11“

The swimming news site SwimSwam reported the development under the headline, “Accused Coach Scott MacFarland Resigns, ‘Retires From Coaching’.”

Sarah Ehekircher issued the following statement:

“The only thing that has changed for me is that he is presently not on a pool deck. This does not change my pursuit of getting him banned from ever coaching again.

It’s a good thing. He should never have been allowed to continue coaching after my complaint in 2010. But because of the severely flawed USA Swimming National Board of Review, which I believe was already decided before it began, he was allowed to continue being around impressionable young girls.

I will continue to fight for changes in the Amateur Sports Act, and changes within USA Swimming and national governing bodies.

For now, I can breathe a small sigh of relief — knowing that, for now, he will not hurt another swimmer.”

A few things remain to be seen: how this development affects Ehekircher’s pending U.S. Center for SafeSport complaint against MacFarland; what emerges from Ehekircher’s meeting next week with USA Swimming CEO Tim Hinchey; and the processing of this information by Ehekircher’s representative, Congresswoman Diana DeGette of Colorado. DeGette, chief deputy minority whip, is the ranking Democrat on the subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee that is investigating abuse at USA Swimming and other U.S. Olympic Committee bodies.