Who is Robert Griswold? Paralympic swimmer handed over a permanent ban by U.S. Center for SafeSport over sexual assault allegations

The U.S. Center for SafeSport has permanently banned American Paralympic swimmer Robert Griswold after finding him responsible for sexual and physical misconduct involving a teammate. The decision was announced on Monday following a long investigation into allegations that the swimmer sexually assaulted an autistic teammate during and after the 2020 Summer Paralympics. The case had earlier triggered a major lawsuit in 2022 that accused several organizations of failing to protect the victim.

The lawsuit described a disturbing pattern of grooming and abuse that allegedly started when both swimmers travelled to Tokyo for the Paralympic Games in 2021. It claimed that officials from the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee and the SafeSport Center failed to act quickly enough. They allowed Griswold to continue interacting with the athlete. Although the case gained national attention, a federal judge eventually dismissed the lawsuit, saying the court did not have proper jurisdiction to handle the matter.

SafeSport hands a lifetime ban to Robert Griswold

The SafeSport Center confirmed that Robert Griswold has now been declared permanently ineligible to participate in Olympic and Paralympic sports programs under its authority. According to the organization’s disciplinary records, the decision followed a lengthy review that began when Griswold was first placed on temporary suspension in August 2022. More than three years later, that suspension has now been upgraded to a lifetime ban for sexual and physical misconduct.

The center was established in 2017 to investigate and address abuse cases within Olympic and Paralympic sports in the United States. Its Centralized Disciplinary Database shows that Griswold still has the option to appeal the ruling, though the ban remains in effect unless overturned through that process.

The lawsuit that initially brought the allegations into the public eye described how Griswold allegedly groomed and assaulted the teammate during their time at the Tokyo Paralympics and in the months afterward. The complaint also criticized officials for allowing both athletes to share a room and shower facilities during the Games.

SafeSport CEO Benita Fitzgerald Mosely emphasized that accountability is essential for improving safety within sports environments. According to her, those who speak up play a critical role in enabling the center to investigate cases, take action against wrongdoing, and ensure better protection for other athletes in the future.

The alleged victim’s attorneys, Jason Lampert and Elizabeth Kramer, said in a statement that the latest findings represent an important moment in the pursuit of justice. They explained that the ruling is a significant step toward holding individuals accountable and ensuring that such incidents are addressed seriously within the sporting system.

The victim has been identified in legal documents, but news organizations including The Associated Press, generally avoid naming abuse victims without their permission.