Champion figure skater John Coughlin commits suicide at age 33, just days after he was suspended from competition for unspecified conduct
- Pairs skating champion John Coughlin took his own life on Friday, his sister said
- He was suspended by US Figure Skating on Thursday for unspecified cause
- Coughlin won national pairs championships with two partners in 2011 and 2012
- He was under restriction by US SafeSport, which investigates sexual misconduct and other forms of abuse, but denied the unspecified allegations
John Coughlin, a two-time U.S. pairs champion recently suspended from figure skating, has died. He was 33.
‘My wonderful, strong, amazingly compassionate brother John Coughlin took his own life earlier today,’ Coughlin’s sister said in a statement on Friday. The skater died in Kansas City, Missouri.
No further details were immediately available.
Coughlin received an interim suspension from the U.S. Center for SafeSport and USFS on Thursday for unspecified conduct. He was barred from any activities sanctioned by the skating body or the U.S. Olympic Committee.
Caydee Denney and John Coughlin, of the United States, perform during their Pairs Short Program during the ISU Figure Skating Eric Bompard Trophy at Bercy arena in Paris in 2013
Caydee Denney and John Coughlin, of the United States, smile during an award ceremony at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Boston in 2014
Coughlin’s suspension followed a December 17 restriction by SafeSport, the body that investigates allegations of sexual misconduct and other forms of abuse.
The champion skater addressed the restriction in a January 7 statement.
‘While I wish I could speak freely about the unfounded allegations levied against me, the SafeSport rules prevent me from doing so since the case remains pending,’ he told USA Today.
‘I note only that the SafeSport notice of allegation itself stated that an allegation in no way constitutes a finding by SafeSport or that there is any merit to the allegation.’
USA Today first reported the death in Kansas City, Missouri. Police there did not immediately respond to email and phone messages from The Associated Press.
USFS said it was ‘stunned’ by the news and extended ‘heartfelt and deepest sympathies’ to the family. The organization said it would have no further comment ‘until a later time.’
The International Skating Union also said it was ‘shocked’ and offered ‘kindest thoughts’ in this ‘time of sorrow.’ Coughlin was chair of the ISU athletes commission and a member of a technical committee.’
Coughlin won national pairs championships with two partners. He teamed with Caitlin Yankowskas in 2011 and with Caydee Denney the next year.
Caydee Denney and John Coughlin speak with reporters during a news conference in Park City, Utah in 2013. Coughlin died of suicide on Friday in Kansas City, Missouri
For confidential support call the National Suicide Prevention Line: 1-800-273-8255