6 days ago
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Three-time Olympian Brendan Kerry is at the centre of explosive allegations in the New South Wales Supreme Court, where filings claim he admitted to repeated sexual intercourse with a 17-year-old girl while living in California.
The allegations have emerged in defamation proceedings Kerry launched against the New South Wales Ice Skating Association [NSWISA] and several senior officials.
It comes after the organisation circulated an email to members referencing his permanent ban by the US Center for SafeSport.
Kerry's legal team has claimed that the email allegedly framed him as a child molester, a paedophile and a monster.
They are claiming those imputations are false as the age of consent in NSW and most states and territories in Australia is 16.
In California, the age of consent is 18, meaning sexual activity with anyone under that age is considered statutory rape.
Three-time Olympian Brendan Kerry faces defamation proceedings after documents allege he said he had repeated sexual intercourse with a 17-year-old
Court filings allege Brendan Kerry allegedly admitted to sex with a 17-year-old girl '10-15, maybe 20 times' in California
At the heart of the case is a 2024 sanction imposed on Kerry in the United States, following an investigation into an alleged relationship with a teenage figure skater.
US SafeSport concluded that Kerry had provided alcohol to the girl, encouraged secrecy around the relationship and engaged in sexual activity with her while she was underage.
According to the court documents, Kerry told investigators he had consensual intercourse with the girl '10-15, maybe 20 times' over an 11-month period.
At the time, she was 16 turning 17, while Kerry was aged 21 or 22. US SafeSport determined that the sexual conduct violated California law and amounted to misconduct under its code of conduct for Olympic athletes.
The findings also alleged that alcohol was used to facilitate sexual activity and that 'perceived physical force' was applied during encounters, according to the court documents.
The girl, identified only as 'Claimant 1,' reportedly had no prior sexual experience before meeting Kerry.
Kerry has denied the allegations and maintains the process was flawed. In public statements, he claimed US SafeSport sanctioned him 'for alleged violations that I did not commit'.
His appeal against the ruling was dismissed in September 2024.
The US Center for SafeSport permanently banned Kerry after finding he allegedly engaged in illegal sexual conduct with a teenager
US SafeSport's decision, later adopted by US Figure Skating, permanently bars Kerry from participating in any Olympic-affiliated event in the United States. The sanction took effect on May 14, 2024.
The Australian filings, dated August 15, show the defendants – NSWISA, its president Peter Lynch, and secretary Fiona Kusilek – are relying on those rulings as a defence.
They argue their statements reflected official findings that are now matters of public record.
Daily Mail Australia has obtained copies of the documents from the NSW Supreme Court.
US SafeSport concluded his actions violated California Penal Code sections 261.5a and 288a.
While no criminal charges have been laid in either Australia or the United States, the allegations have cast a shadow over Kerry's career.
He represented Australia at three Winter Olympics and was honoured as a flag-bearer at the Beijing Games in 2022.
He also made history as the first Australian skater to land two different quadruple jumps in competition.
Kerry's lawsuit alleges the NSWISA email defamed him and damaged his reputation within skating circles.
The defendants argue that their statements were based on official findings and are therefore defensible.
The matter is expected to continue in the NSW Supreme Court later this year, with Kerry's legal team set to challenge the admissibility and weight of the US SafeSport evidence.
