Ex-Coach Gets Prison for Assaulting Swimmers

A former swim coach from Colorado has been sentenced to 42 years in prison for sexually assaulting multiple members of the Boulder Poseidon swim team he coached nearly three decades ago. The sentencing took place last month, with the judge emphasizing the severity of the crimes committed by Beber, who led the team in 1997 before it was renamed Boulder Swimming. The team, which was coed at the time, saw a significant number of male swimmers leave shortly after Beber took over. In early 2002, three female swimmers reported experiencing inappropriate behavior from Beber, including unwanted touching and suggestive comments. Despite their shared experiences, no formal complaints were made to law enforcement or swimming organizations at the time. It wasn't until the summer of 2021, nearly 20 years after Beber's departure, that one of the victims reached out to Boulder authorities, prompting a renewed investigation into the allegations. The victim, who was training to become a swim coach herself, revealed that USA Swimming had briefly investigated the claims but ultimately left the decision to the parent board, which chose not to pursue further action due to fears of repercussions. One victim recounted a particularly harrowing experience, stating that Beber had made explicit sexual advances and later raped her in a locker room. Despite the serious nature of the allegations, both Colorado Swimming and USA Swimming have not commented on Beber's sentencing. The judge's remarks highlighted the profound impact of such cases, describing them as "every parent's worst nightmare."