Edouard Larov, a former coach of Liukin and the USSR and Canadian national teams, also trained gymnasts at the club.[4]
In 2003, WOGA gymnasts Patterson and Hollie Vise won two individual medals and contributed to the first team gold for the United States at the World Championships.[5][6] In 2004, Patterson became the second American gymnast to become the women's Olympic all-around gymnastics champion, and the first American to do so in a non-boycotted Olympics.[7]
In 2003 and 2004, WOGA coach Christopher Wagoner fondled and raped 14-year-old Natasha Crabb. Police launched an investigation in 2005 after Wagoner had left the gym. He pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault and was sentenced in 2006 to 15 years in prison.[19]
After Wagoner pled guilty, Crabb and her family sued WOGA's owners, alleging that the gym had failed to properly screen and supervise the coach. The suit did not seek a specific amount of money from the academy owners and did not accuse them of abuse. Bill Boyd, the gym's attorney, said all instructors receive a criminal background check and that the gym was not aware of any accusations until after Wagoner had left.[20][21][22] In 2008, WOGA and Crabb settled the lawsuit for an undisclosed amount.[19]
Alleged abuse of gymnasts
In 2022, the U.S. Center for SafeSport launched an investigation into allegations of abuse of gymnasts by WOGA founder Liukin. "Multiple gymnasts allege Liukin routinely berated, belittled, and screamed at them, that he forced them to compete and train on broken bones or when they were ill, and in some cases they were fat-shamed daily," wrote the Orange County Register, citing a Southern California News Group investigation published in March 2022.[23] Liukin remained under investigation as of January 2023.[24]
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