A teen gymnast in Gig Harbor, Wash., is suing her former gymnastics coach and gym, alleging the coach sexually abused her, and the gym failed to protect her.
Andrew Smith, 31, was placed on a coaching suspension by SafeSport & USA Gymnastics back in September, with his suspension ordered to last two years. He has not yet been charged with a crime.
The lawsuit, filed Oct. 25 in Pierce County Superior Court, names Smith and the North American Sports Academy (NASA Gymnastics) in Gig Harbor, where he worked as defendents.
The gym is owned by Linda Smith, Andrew's mother. The family of the gymnast filing the lawsuit has asked that she be referred to as Alyssa.
Attorney Loren Cochran of the Cochran Douglas law firm is representing her.
“I think the family feels that because the Pierce County Prosecutor’s Office has refused to pursue criminal charges, filing a civil suit is their only option to get accountability for what happened to (Alyssa),” Cochran told the Gateway. “... For (Alyssa’s) family, the path to accountability is to hold NASA Gymnastics and Andrew Smith civilly liable.”
Alyssa said she wants her story heard.
“If it weren’t for Drew I would still love the sport I once did,” she told the Gateway in a statement. “I kept quiet for so long because my fear of losing gymnastics outweighed every discomfort I had. I did it for my teammates and to protect the future of other athletes. Even if my story only protects one person, to me that is a story worth telling.
“The outcome is very disappointing to me as I feel he took a huge piece of me that I will never get back. I don’t feel I’m getting the justice I deserve, but If there is one thing that can come from telling my story, I want to be a voice for anyone who is afraid to speak up.”
Alyssa hopes to inspire others to speak out.
“I want to be the support to other athletes that I never felt I had,” the statement said. “I hope victims of sexual assault know they are not the problem. I want people to know they are more than their sport and they are more than their abusers.”
The lawsuit, which seeks unspecified damages, alleges that Smith began abusing her in 2021 when she started private lessons.
Alyssa “was sexually harassed, sexually abused and physically, emotionally and mentally harmed by the defendants and/or their agents,” the complaint for damages said.
The lawsuit alleges that Smith inappropriately touched and sexually abused Alyssa while spotting her.
Before having her attempt a dangerous skill: “Coach Drew would make (Alyssa) dance with him,” the lawsuit said. “He would spin (Alyssa), dip her and then tell her to look into his eyes and bite her lips as he bit his.”
He would also allegedly hug her, pick her up, spread her legs and wrap them around him before he'd kiss her on the forehead. All of these actions happened when no other gymnasts were around.
She’s “suffered and continues to suffer general and special damages including, but not limited to, emotional distress, physical and mental pain and suffering, medical expenses, a decrease in her ability to enjoy life, and other general and special damages, all in an amount to be determined at trial,” the lawsuit said. “These damages have continued and will continue indefinitely into the future.”
