A THREE-TIME Olympian allegedly admitted he knew he was breaking the law by having repeated sexual intercourse with a 17-year-old girl.
Australian figure skater Brendan Kerry, 30, competed at the 2014, 2018 and 2022 Winter Olympics – and won his national singles title eight times.
Brendan Kerry allegedly admitted to having sex with an underage minor up to 20 times[/caption]
Kerry represented Australia at three Winter Olympics[/caption]
Kerry was also a registered coach with US Figure Skating.
However, he was handed a lifetime ban in any US Olympic activities in the USA by the US Center for SafeSport in May 2024 for “sexual misconduct involving a minor”, the organisation stated.
That permanent suspension prompted an email from the New South Wales Ice Skating Association to its members.
But as reported by the Daily Mail, Kerry submitted a defamation lawsuit against NSWISA, its president Peter Lynch and secretary Fiona Kusilek for damaging his reputation.
The defendants, however, argue their comments were based on official findings, thus making them defensible in the New South Wales Supreme Court case.
It is claimed the email labelled Kerry as a child molester, paedophile and monster.
But Kerry’s lawyers dispute the claims because the age of consent in NSW – the Sydney skater’s home state in Australia – is 16.
In California, where the sexual activity took place, the age of consent is 18 – and any sexual activity with anyone under that age is considered statutory rape.
US SafeSport investigated Kerry’s alleged relationship with a teenage figure skater.
The non-profit organisation – established to tackle sexual abuse of minors and athletes in US sport – stated he had engaged in sexual activity with the girl.
Findings also claimed he had provided her with alcohol, applied “perceived physical force” and encouraged her to keep the relationship secret.
The Daily Mail report adds that court documents record Kerry told the investigation he had consensual intercourse with her “ten to 15, maybe 20 times” over an 11-month period between 2016 and 2017.
The girl, named as Claimant 1, had no prior sexual experience before meeting Kerry and was 16 turning 17 at the time, while Kerry was 21 or 22.
Before their first sexual encounter, he allegedly supplied a vodka drink.
The report alleged Claimant 1 “felt that she had no control over what was taking place and no ability to say yes or no but went along with what [Kerry] wanted”.
Kerry denies the allegations and insists the process was flawed, claiming SafeSport were “sanctioning me for alleged violations that I did not commit”.
His appeal against the SafeSport ruling was dismissed in September 2024.
US SafeSport concluded Kerry’s actions violated California Penal Code sections 261.5a and 288a.
No criminal charges have been filed against Kerry in either Australia or the USA.
SafeSport also investigated claims from a second skater Gracie Gold – who waived her anonymity – that Kerry had raped her at a party in 2016 but the organisation ruled there was insufficient evidence to uphold the allegation.
The NSWISA defence in the legal case, who state they have done “no more than repeat the relevant wording” in the SafeSport sanction, also alleges Kerry had intercourse with a 14-year-old girl in Queensland, Australia when he was 17.