Less than two months after being permanently banned by the U.S. Center for SafeSport, Paralympic gold medalist Robert Griswold is suing the organization, along with other parties, alleging they unlawfully damaged his career and ruined his reputation.
Griswold filed a federal lawsuit against SafeSport, the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC), Laura Egbert, and other unnamed parties in Colorado on April 30.
In March, Griswold was permanently banned by SafeSport for sexual and physical misconduct.
His SafeSport status is notably currently listed as subject to appeal/not yet final.
The 29-year-old American was accused of grooming and abusing U.S. Paralympic teammate Parker Egbert, beginning in July 2021 at the Paralympic Games in Tokyo and through August 2022.
A long-running civil lawsuit accusing Griswold of abuse was dismissed in November 2025 after a federal judge ruled the court lacked jurisdiction, but Egbert’s representatives refiled in December.
In the lawsuit filed on April 30, Griswold and his representatives accuse SafeSport of operating as a “rogue agency” with unchecked authority and imposing punishments without hearings or meaningful appeals.
Griswold’s representatives argue that he was denied due process when he was permanently banned by SafeSport.
They allege the organization engaged in deceptive, misleading and unfair practices that misled people about how fair the system is and that it wrongfully harmed Griswold. This includes claims that SafeSport publicly portrayed Griswold as guilty and punished him before giving him a chance to defend himself, and that SafeSport “advertises” itself as running a fair system, but doesn’t follow through.
In addition to SafeSport, the lawsuit accuses the USOPC of failing to protect Griswold’s rights and delegating too much power to SafeSport, while Laura Egbert, the mother of the swimmer Griswold allegedly abused, Parker Egbert, is listed as a co-conspirator in the lawsuit. Griswold claims Egbert participated in the process that led to his suspension and contributed to a “smear campaign” against him.
Griswold denies the accusations against him. The lawsuit seeks financial damages in excess of $750,000 and court intervention to halt SafeSport’s “unlawful” practices.
What has this twisted world become. That Parker participated. Well of course he did not have a CHOICE!!! This is totally disgusting and there’s physical evidence that he was abused. Faulty his mother for advocating for him is plain evil.
This guy sucks
I just wonder what Ellen and Clark Griswold think of all this
Of note, the Griswold SafeSport case is listed as “Subject to appeal / not yet final” in their database.
This whole situaton is unfortunate, but this development is definitely not a good look for the defendants in this suit.
Boohooo.
I’d sue for $10 million plus legal fees. Discovery should be enlightening. SwimSwam needs to stop describing him as “disgraced.” He has not been found guilty of anything. And who would send a child with a kindergartener’s mentality to live alone without a guardian or professional aide, essentially making an unpaid, untrained, inexperienced teammate responsible for him 24/7?
Blame the victim much. This case is going to be thrown out faster than spoiled milk.
Like I said .. Discovery will be enlightening.
If you look back on this Robert VOLUNTEERED to help Parker. Paralympics are not at all welcoming or encouraging of those with an intellectual disability. They certainly aren’t going to give special accommodations for them.