Paralympic swimmer gets permanent ban in abuse case involving autistic teammate

DENVER (AP) — The U.S. Center for SafeSport on Monday permanently banned a Paralympic swimmer who was accused of sexually assaulting an autistic teammate at the Games in 2021 and for about a year after that.

The center handed down the suspension to Robert Griswold, whose case led to a 2022 lawsuit that was eventually dismissed when a judge ruled the court lacked jurisdiction.

The lawsuit spelled out a pattern of grooming and sexual assault that began when Griswold and the swimmer traveled to Tokyo for the Paralympics in 2021. It accused the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee and the SafeSport center for “shielding and protecting” Griswold while he committed the acts.

“Accountability is the path to long-term culture change,” said the center’s new CEO, Benita Fitzgerald Mosely. “We are grateful to those who come forward with their stories because they make it possible for the Center to take action and protect others.”

The USOPC did not immediately comment on the latest action by the center and Griswold's attorney did not immediately return an email sent by The Associated Press.

The center, created in 2017 to deal with sex abuse in Olympic and Paralympic sports, was removed from the lawsuit over jurisdictional issues in 2023. Two years later, a federal judge dismissed the suit altogether.

The center placed Griswold on temporary suspension in August 2022, and more than 3 1/2 years later, increased that to permanent ineligibility for sexual and physical misconduct. The center's Centralized Disciplinary Database said Griswold has the right to appeal.

Though the plaintiff is named in the lawsuit he filed, the AP does not typically identify abuse victims without explicit permission. The plaintiff's attorneys, Jason Lampert and Elizabeth Kramer, said in a statement that “the findings mark an important step toward accountability and justice.”

The lawsuit alleged the USOPC allowed Griswold to share a room and a shower with the plaintiff — an “especially troubling” decision “considering the extent of Plaintiff’s disabilities,” which left him with the mental capacity of a 5-year old.

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FILE - The Paralympic flag is raised during the Opening Ceremony for the 2024 Paralympics, Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Thomas Padilla,File)

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has tied Wilt Chamberlain's record by scoring at least 20 points in 126 consecutive games.

The Oklahoma City Thunder guard and reigning MVP hit a 3-pointer late in the third quarter Monday night against Denver to reach 22 points. Gilgeous-Alexander could break the record Thursday at home against the Boston Celtics.

Chamberlain set the record from 1961 to 1963. He scored at least 20 points every game of the 1961-62 season for the Philadelphia Warriors, which included his famous 100-point game in 1962. Chamberlain’s streak ended on Jan. 20, 1963, when he only played four minutes for the San Francisco Warriors against the St. Louis Hawks.

“The name that he is up there with is Wilt,” Nuggets coach David Adelman said before the game. “If you love this game, you should love the history of it. And for him and for Wilt, to talk about him again and again and again on his records — it just says a lot about Shai’s career, the consistency that he’s shown over the years.”

Gilgeous-Alexander has five games of at least 50 points during his streak, including a career-high 55 points against the Indiana Pacers early this season. He was last held under 20 when he scored 18 on Oct. 30, 2024 against San Antonio.

Gilgeous-Alexander scored 17 points in the first half Monday. He brought the ball up the court in the closing seconds of the second quarter with a chance to tie the record. Instead, he passed to Isaiah Joe for a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give the Thunder a 66-60 lead.

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Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) celebrates during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Denver Nuggets Monday, Mar. 9, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Gerald Leong)