ISU announces the death of John Coughlin

[hanyuufan5]

RIP, John.

 

[ranjake]

This is shocking and so very sad. Godspeed, John

 

[heyang]

John Coughlin unexpected passing

Shocked to read this https://www.usatoday.com/story/spor...AKMdiSqSWXQBfBS_DBII8kMxkVkhajxPkhpUPl6UqXl8I

 

[apgold]

Tragic turn of events. RIP and condolences to his family and friends.

 

[melgirl25]

So sorry to hear this. My thoughts are with his family and friends.

 

[Arriba627]

Devastated to hear this news. Will always remember him as one of my favorite pairs commentators and will remember his kindness when I met him in Milan last year. Skating with the angels today...Hugs and prayers for his family.

 

[Skater Boy]

This is very sad and tragic. I don't know what happened, why it happened or if any allegation is truth but John's death is still sad. I hope everyone involved family, fiends whoever all can heal.

 

[ladyjane]

May he RIP. Sad.

 

[Hyena]

Awful news to wake up to this morning. My heart is broken for his family and all the people who loved him.

 

[kenboy123]

What????....you've got to be kidding!!!....=(

 

[NymphyNymphy]

Who cursed figure skating? Why are we constantly plagued by untimely deaths. Rest in peace John.

 

[luckyguy]

Dalilah Sappenfield, Coughlin’s coach, said on her Facebook page that she had spoken to Coughlin earlier in the week and he was distraught over the events that led to the suspension.

“The John I knew was a big loving teddy bear with an infectious laugh,” Sappenfield wrote. “It was so very difficult for him and all those who loved him to see his name and reputation being dragged through the mud these past few weeks, without any due process. We spoke everyday just numb and shocked about how things were being misconstrued on social media. It was so very sad and tragic for me to see his life turned upside down in a matter of weeks, to the point where he felt alone, lost, and desperate that he no longer had it in him to fight.”
https://www.kansascity.com/sports/olympics/article224807565.html#storylink=cpy

 

[mrrice]

Dalilah Sappenfield, Coughlin’s coach, said on her Facebook page that she had spoken to Coughlin earlier in the week and he was distraught over the events that led to the suspension.

“The John I knew was a big loving teddy bear with an infectious laugh,” Sappenfield wrote. “It was so very difficult for him and all those who loved him to see his name and reputation being dragged through the mud these past few weeks, without any due process. We spoke everyday just numb and shocked about how things were being misconstrued on social media. It was so very sad and tragic for me to see his life turned upside down in a matter of weeks, to the point where he felt alone, lost, and desperate that he no longer had it in him to fight.”
https://www.kansascity.com/sports/olympics/article224807565.html#storylink=cpy

I dealt with bullying and was suicidal when I was in high school. Thank god my mother pulled me from school and sent me to a place where I was happy and felt understood. This is why I will never turn my back or close my door to family or friends who are struggling. I'm heartbroken over John's death. RIP my handsome champion.

 

[skylark]

Dalilah Sappenfield, Coughlin’s coach, said on her Facebook page that she had spoken to Coughlin earlier in the week and he was distraught over the events that led to the suspension.

“The John I knew was a big loving teddy bear with an infectious laugh,” Sappenfield wrote. “It was so very difficult for him and all those who loved him to see his name and reputation being dragged through the mud these past few weeks, without any due process. We spoke everyday just numb and shocked about how things were being misconstrued on social media. It was so very sad and tragic for me to see his life turned upside down in a matter of weeks, to the point where he felt alone, lost, and desperate that he no longer had it in him to fight.”
https://www.kansascity.com/sports/olympics/article224807565.html#storylink=cpy

This is devastating. John's kindness, generosity joy, and positivity shone through his commentary. Unfortunately such people can sometimes be more vulnerable to what Dalilah described. My deepest condolences to John's family. I feel like the figure skating world has just lost another great light.

 

[rachno2]

Dalilah Sappenfield, Coughlin’s coach, said on her Facebook page that she had spoken to Coughlin earlier in the week and he was distraught over the events that led to the suspension.

“The John I knew was a big loving teddy bear with an infectious laugh,” Sappenfield wrote. “It was so very difficult for him and all those who loved him to see his name and reputation being dragged through the mud these past few weeks, without any due process. We spoke everyday just numb and shocked about how things were being misconstrued on social media. It was so very sad and tragic for me to see his life turned upside down in a matter of weeks, to the point where he felt alone, lost, and desperate that he no longer had it in him to fight.”
https://www.kansascity.com/sports/olympics/article224807565.html#storylink=cpy

I need to get this off my chest.

I know she is grieving, but this kind of statement reads as extremely insensitive to his accusers. There are ways of sending your condolences to his family and regretting that a horrible event like suicide took place without implying that his accusers are lying, or that he is the victim of injustice. The thing is, he had the option of due process, and for reasons unknown to us he chose not to see that due process through. Now his family and accusers may never have that closure.

It just makes me uncomfortable to see everybody gush about how nice/handsome/honest he is when we still do not know the whole story. A terribly sad thing happened, and his family deserves all the support and sympathy in the world. That is all I would say publicly without knowing the full extent of the accusations and their veracity.

My condolences to his family. I can’t imagine living through something like this.

 

[TallyT]

I’m sure I’ll get attacked for this, but I need to get it off my chest.

I know she is grieving, but this kind of statement reads as extremely insensitive to his accusers. There are ways of sending your condolences to his family—who I am sure are going through hell right now—and regretting that a horrible event like suicide took place without implying that his accusers are lying, or that he is the victim of injustice. The thing is, he had the option of due process, and for reasons unknown to us he chose not to see that due process through. Now his family and accusers may never have that closure.

It just makes me uncomfortable to see everybody gush about him when we still do not know the whole story. A sad event happened, and his family deserves all the support and sympathy in the world, but that is all I would say publicly without knowing the full extent of the accusations and their veracity.

No, I agree with you but it - and some of the other online outpouring - is understandable. Obviously, the world doesn't know and may never know the truth now, but for many of the skating community, especially in the US, he has a face, he is a real person, his pain they could see. The youngsters on the other side don't, aren't and can't be seen, so while people can say they feel for them... it's not as visceral.

And it's easier to give in to just not wanting to believe no matter what. I would, I fear, be the same.

I worry about those unknown young people as well, waking up to this and to the online reaction. Everyone involved has been hurt...

 

[Metis]

I’m sure I’ll get attacked for this, but I need to get it off my chest.

I know she is grieving, but this kind of statement reads as extremely insensitive to his accusers. There are ways of sending your condolences to his family and regretting that a horrible event like suicide took place without implying that his accusers are lying, or that he is the victim of injustice. The thing is, he had the option of due process, and for reasons unknown to us he chose not to see that due process through. Now his family and accusers may never have that closure.

It just makes me uncomfortable to see everybody gush about how nice/handsome/honest he is when we still do not know the whole story. A terribly sad thing happened, and his family deserves all the support and sympathy in the world. That is all I would say publicly without knowing the full extent of the accusations and their veracity.

My condolences to his family. I can’t imagine living through something like this.

Thank you so much for saying this.

Just... thank you.

 

[skylark]

The thing is, he had the option of due process, and for reasons unknown to us he chose not to see that due process through.

I didn't know that. He might possibly have hoped the situation could be resolved quietly. And then, since Dalilah mentioned it and said she'd been talking to him every day, he may have regretted his decision. But do you know more? I'm only speculating, trying to imagine why he took that action, or inaction.

 

[Ziotic]

I’m sure I’ll get attacked for this, but I need to get it off my chest.

I know she is grieving, but this kind of statement reads as extremely insensitive to his accusers. There are ways of sending your condolences to his family and regretting that a horrible event like suicide took place without implying that his accusers are lying, or that he is the victim of injustice. The thing is, he had the option of due process, and for reasons unknown to us he chose not to see that due process through. Now his family and accusers may never have that closure.

It just makes me uncomfortable to see everybody gush about how nice/handsome/honest he is when we still do not know the whole story. A terribly sad thing happened, and his family deserves all the support and sympathy in the world. That is all I would say publicly without knowing the full extent of the accusations and their veracity.

My condolences to his family. I can’t imagine living through something like this.

Couldn’t agree more.

 

[bobbob]

I’m sure I’ll get attacked for this, but I need to get it off my chest.

I know she is grieving, but this kind of statement reads as extremely insensitive to his accusers. There are ways of sending your condolences to his family and regretting that a horrible event like suicide took place without implying that his accusers are lying, or that he is the victim of injustice. The thing is, he had the option of due process, and for reasons unknown to us he chose not to see that due process through. Now his family and accusers may never have that closure.

I don't think Dalilah's goal was to send condolences to John's family--she was as close to John as anyone and she was trying to express how John himself felt. I think what she said was exactly what John himself told her he felt, and I wouldn't blame her for candidly sharing that, seeing that no one else has.

Regardless, suicide is never the solution. Please reach out if you need help.