Figure Skater Bridget Namiotka Dies At 32 Three Years After Accusing Skating Partner Of Sexual Abuse

Bridget Namiotka, a figure skater who accused her late pairs skating partner John Coughlin of sexual abuse, has died, her parents confirmed. She was 32.

The former national and international medal-winning pairs figure skater passed away on July 25, her parents told USA Today Sports Friday.

"Bridget succumbed to her long struggles with addiction after several very difficult years of dealing with the trauma of sexual abuse," her parents Steve and Maureen Namiotka told the publication in an interview. "She was a beautiful child and a wonderful athlete, and we are heartbroken. It is our hope that Bridget's death will bring new attention to the terrible effects of sexual abuse and addiction in our society."

In May 2019, Namiotka became the first person to publicly accuse her pairs partner, Coughlin, of sexual abuse when she alleged in a Facebook post that he had abused her for two years when she was a teenager.

Namiotka made the announcement while replying to a post in support of Coughlin, who died by suicide at the age of 33 on Jan. 18, 2019.

"I'm sorry but john (sic) hurt at least 10 people including me. He sexually abused me for 2 years," she replied to the Facebook post at the time.

The former figure skater followed it up with three more posts.

"Someone that's innocent doesn't hang himself. Think about the victims when you're speaking up for what he did to at least 10 girls," she wrote in one post, while another post read, "Think about all of the girls he hurt."

In the final post, she said, "Grooming happens. happened to me and he hurt a lot of girls. Think about the victims."

Namiotka and Coughlin skated together from 2004 to 2007, winning three medals on the Junior Grand Prix series and finishing ninth in the senior (Olympic) level at the 2007 U.S. national championships.

During that period, Namiotka was between the ages of 14 and 17, while Coughlin was 18 to 21.

Coughlin won his two U.S. pairs championships with two other partners.

Coughlin took his own life in his father's home in Kansas City one day after he received an interim suspension from the U.S. Center for SafeSport over sexual misconduct complaints.

His death ended the investigation into those reports, SafeSport said in February 2019.

If you have thoughts of suicide, confidential help is available for free at the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Call 1-800-273-8255. The line is available 24 hours, every day.