Olympic Bobsled Bronze Medalist Aja Evans Files Lawsuit Alle

Aja Evans, a 2014 Olympic bobsled bronze medalist, has taken legal action, claiming that a doctor who was part of Team USA's medical staff allegedly subjected her to a significant period of sexual abuse and harassment while providing her treatment. The lawsuit, which was filed in a state court in upstate New York on Wednesday, mentions the doctor in question as Jonathan Wilhelm, a chiropractor who currently resides in Montana. Furthermore, the defendants in this case include the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) and the USA Bobsled and Skeleton Federation.

In a news release on Thursday, Evans, who is 35 years old, shared that Wilhelm's actions of "repeated molestation and sexual assault" caused significant physical and emotional harm to her. Consequently, she developed chronic anxiety and experienced a decline in her enthusiasm for bobsledding.

The lawsuit highlights similarities between Wilhelm's treatment and the abuse committed by Larry Nassar, the former USA Gymnastics team doctor, who was found guilty in 2018 of sexually exploiting female gymnasts and is currently serving a lengthy prison term.

Ryan Stevens, Wilhelm's attorney, strongly denies the allegations, describing them as "unacceptable" and expressing his disapproval of comparisons to Nassar as "inappropriate and damaging." The USOPC, though not having reviewed the complaint yet, reiterates its dedication to ensuring the safety and welfare of Team USA athletes and eradicating any form of mistreatment.

USA Bobsled, in response to the lawsuit, strongly condemns sexual misconduct and is deeply committed to creating a safe and inclusive environment for all athletes, coaches, staff, and volunteers.

Aja Evans' attorney, Michelle Simpson Tuegel, argues that her client experienced extremely distressing and ongoing instances of sexual and emotional abuse from Wilhelm, which were facilitated by the prevailing atmosphere of silence within USA Bobsledding and the USOPC.

The lawsuit claims that Wilhelm started providing treatment to Evans in 2012 and alleges that, during these sessions, he behaved inappropriately by touching and groping her, which goes against medical standards. It is also stated that Wilhelm had been reported for secretly recording Evans and others without their permission during treatment sessions and before competitions at the USOPC training facility in Lake Placid, New York.

In 2017, Evans and her teammate brought to the attention of USA Bobsled the issue of Wilhelm's non-consensual photography. However, despite their complaint, no investigation was initiated by either the USOPC or USA Bobsled, as stated in the lawsuit. The lawsuit is seeking unspecified damages for pain and suffering, medical expenses, and other harm, along with punitive damages.

It is worth mentioning that Aja Evans had previously earned a bronze medal in the two-woman bobsled competition during the 2014 Sochi Olympics. However, it should be noted that in November 2022, she faced a two-year suspension from bobsledding due to her failure to provide a sample during an out-of-competition drug test conducted in March of that same year.