The co-founder of a prominent Northern Virginia swim club was sentenced Thursday to serve seven years in prison for sexually abusing a student.
Rick Curl pleaded guilty in February to abusing Kelley Currin 30 years ago. Currin was a swimmer at the Curl-Burke Swim Club, which Curl co-founded.
"I loved Rick Curl. He was my hero," Currin told the judge. "I lost chances to swim in the Olympics, developed eating disorders and became an alcoholic."
In court, Curl responded to Currin, telling her he was "profoundly sorry" about the abuse.
Curl was sentenced to 15 years, with all but seven of those suspended, and must complete five years of probation and alcohol treatment. He must also register as a sex offender.
Currin says the abuse started when she was 13 and continued for five years. She and her family initially received a settlement, but she broke her silence last year.
Thursday, she called for a congressional investigation into USA Swimming.
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"There are people that knew about this abuse and did nothing," Currin said.
Currin's lawyer Ed Vasquez has said 80 coaches have been banned due to inappropriate behavior.
"Here in the state of Maryland, for example, we know about one coach that is flying under the radar that we believe has abused kids and avoided prosecution because the victims are afraid to come forward," Vasquez said.
He would not disclose the name of the coach.
Though in many cases media outlets do not name victims of sexual assault or abuse, Currin has spoken out about her case.
Curl-Burke Swim Club, which has multiple locations in Northern Virginia, had trained thousands of swimmers and dozens of Olympic swimmers.
The club -- renamed as the Nation’s Capital Swim Club -- has new owners.
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