Olympic figure skater accused of sexual abuse apologized to girl's mother

Christine Brennan | USA TODAY

The mother of a 13-year-old American female figure skater who allegedly was sent two lewd photos from French Olympic pairs skater Morgan Cipres in 2017 told USA TODAY Sports that she received a lengthy apology from Cipres nearly four weeks after the alleged incident.

Cipres, who then was 26, has been accused by the girl and her parents of direct messaging two photos of his penis on Instagram on Dec. 3, 2017 to the girl, who skated at the same rink in Wesley Chapel, Fla., as Cipres. USA TODAY Sports has reviewed those messages, which were sent from what appears to be Cipres’ verified account.

The U.S. Center for SafeSport is investigating the allegation, according to the girl’s parents and emails obtained by USA TODAY Sports, which first reported the probe on Dec. 10.

The girl and her parents said that Cipres’ coaches, John Zimmerman, a 2002 Olympian and member of the U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame, and Silvia Fontana, a 2002 and 2006 Olympian representing Italy, tried to keep the family from reporting the alleged incident to authorities by shaming and threatening the girl as Cipres prepared for the 2018 Winter Olympics. Zimmerman and Fontana, who are married to each other, also coached the 13-year-old girl, as did Cipres on occasion.

The girl and her parents are not being identified because USA TODAY Sports does not publish the names of alleged victims of sexual abuse.

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Zimmerman and Fontana have denied the allegations, while Cipres said he had “nothing to say about this allegation.”

In the apology, which was allegedly sent Dec. 30, 2017 from Cipres’ Instagram account and was obtained by USA TODAY Sports, Cipres asked the girl’s mother if they could try to “forget bad things” during what he called the “stressful and hard” Olympic season.

“I’m sending you a message because of what happened with (girl’s name removed) and I,” the message began. “I want first to apologies (sic) about my stupid things I did. It was irresponsible from my side and I do really regret my act. So I am asking your apologies sincerely and I hope we can be all right on this.”

Cipres did not say why he was apologizing or what he specifically did that he believed required an apology.

His message continued: “It was always a good moment to work at the rink with your daughter and I’m thankful for the trust you give me. I’m really sorry and I’m (sic) wanted to let you know all of this. Please accept my apologies. Morgan”

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He then sent another message: “It’s also a very important moment for me, this season is really stressful and hard because of Olympics but I wish you can understand my work every day and respect all the best I’m trying to do in my life. Thats (sic) why I hope we can stay in a good term you and me and just trying to forget bad things. … I am asking you all of this with my heart. I’m really sorry again.”

Finally, he added this in a third message: “I’m ready to come to meet you in person face to face to speak about it if you can tomorrow.”

The child’s parents declined Cipres’ offer to meet, the family’s attorney, Andrea Lewis, told USA TODAY Sports on Saturday.

Seven weeks later, Cipres and his pairs partner Vanessa James finished fifth at the Olympic Games in South Korea.

Cipres’ apology arrived just hours after the girl’s tutor emailed the girl’s psychologist, Dara Bushman, who not only worked with the girl, but also worked with Cipres, James and about a dozen other skaters at AdventHealth Center Ice in Wesley Chapel, Fla.

In the email, which was sent at 7:17 a.m. Dec. 30, 2017, the tutor wrote to Bushman:

“Please ask her to share with you the many statements that have been made to her over the past few weeks (mostly by John) in an attempt to manipulate or scare her into keeping quiet. She has been told that telling will place a target on her back with French fans, that she is the type of girl who does this (collect pics), that she has been asking for it by her clothing choices, that her dad is an attorney and imagine what he will do if he finds out, that she will destroy his career and that of his partner, and much more.”

Bushman told USA TODAY Sports that after receiving the email, she first called the girl’s mother, then made calls to Child Protective Services and Zimmerman and Fontana.

“I wanted to make sure the child was safe,” Bushman said.

On Aug. 10, 2019, a friend of the girl’s family reported the allegation to SafeSport after reading three-time U.S. champion and 2014 Olympic team bronze medalist Ashley Wagner’s story of alleged sexual abuse in USA TODAY Sports on Aug. 1.

SafeSport spokesperson Dan Hill said he cannot confirm an active investigation per the organization's policy.

Wagner’s allegation against former U.S. pairs champion John Coughlin was the latest in a startling series of sexual abuse allegations and suspensions that have rocked figure skating in 2019.

Coughlin, 33, died by suicide Jan. 18, one day after he received an interim suspension from SafeSport. USA TODAY Sports has reported that there were three reports of sexual abuse against Coughlin, two of them involving minors. Coughlin’s death effectively ended the investigation into those reports, SafeSport announced in February. Wagner’s case is separate from those three reports.

Zimmerman, 46, had an illustrious career as one of the top U.S. pairs skaters in decades. He and partner Kyoko Ina finished fifth at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics and also won three U.S. national pairs titles and the 2002 world championship bronze medal. He and Ina were inducted into the USFS Hall of Fame on January 5, 2018.

Fontana, 43, is a five-time Italian national champion in singles skating.

Cipres, 28, and his pairs partner James have won six French national titles, the 2018 world championship bronze medal, the 2018 Grand Prix Final and the 2019 European championship.

Zimmerman and Fontana are still coaching at the Wesley Chapel rink, while Cipres still trains at the rink, but is performing in skating shows this month in Europe. Rink owner Gordie Zimmermann did not return a voicemail message seeking comment.

Follow Brennan @cbrennansports. Contact her at christinebrennan.com.