A new report has uncovered harrowing allegations of abuse against longtime Cal women’s swimming head coach Teri McKeever.
McKeever, who was the U.S. Olympic coach in 2012 and has been the head coach at Cal since 1993, is accused of bullying and verbally abusing her athletes for decades, according to the Orange County Register.
In total, 19 current and former Cal swimmers, six parents, and a former Golden Bears men’s swimmer have alleged that McKeever “verbally and emotionally abused, swore at and threatened swimmers on an almost daily basis, pressured athletes to compete or train while injured or dealing with chronic illnesses or eating disorders, even accusing some women of lying about their conditions despite being provided medical records by them.”
Additionally, at least six Cal women’s swimmers said they made plans to take their own lives or became obsessed with suicide because of the treatment McKeever subjected them to.
McKeever is also accused of recently using a racial slur and profanities while trashing rap music.
“At least six Cal women’s swimmers made plans to kill themselves or obsessed about suicide because of what they describe as (their coach’s) bullying.”
Horrifying, heartbreaking & unacceptable. Please take time to read this @sreidreporter story. Wow. https://t.co/VMj78sMDNn
— Lindsay Schnell (@Lindsay_Schnell) May 24, 2022
McKeever is the most decorated female coach in swimming history, having won six Pac-12 titles and four national titles with the Golden Bears.
However, the shocking allegations she is now facing are incredibly concerning, no matter what her resume says.