A former athlete on the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) women’s track and field program has alleged inappropriate conduct by the team’s coaching staff, according to The Daily Pennsylvania. Thrower Kira Lindner of Chappaqua, N.Y., described numerous incidents involving sexual innuendo and non-consensual touching, and claimed nothing was done to address the issues when she reported them to UPenn head coach Steve Dolan.
Lindner, 21, was on the UPenn roster as a hammer and discus thrower from 2021 to 2023. She claimed volunteer assistant coach Vlad Pavlenko frequently made sexually inappropriate comments, often targeted at her. When she reported the behaviour to Dolan, he dismissed the concerns as “not an issue,” because the alleged misconduct did not involve physical touch. The coach also said Pavlenko would not be removed from the team, and it was up to Lindner to decide if she wanted to return.
Claims of inappropriate touching
Throwing coach Fletcher Brooks requested an individual meeting with Lindner in April 2022, where he expressed anger toward the athlete for going to the head coach, rather than coming to him directly. Later in the meeting, the coach allegedly placed his hand on Lindner’s upper thigh.
Lindner reported an experience of “retaliatory behaviour” following the incidents, including further inappropriate touching from Brooks and hostility toward her and her family. The athlete also claims to have faced performance repercussions; she was left off competition rosters despite being ranked highly in her conference. In April 2023, Lindner launched a 48.07m hammer throw at the Penn Big 5 Championships–the ninth-best throw in UPenn history.
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Lindner submitted an official Title IX complaint to the university in June 2023. She detailed that the physical touching from Brooks “felt like [Brooks] was trying to exert power in a sexual way.” In August 2023, with the new season approaching and the situation still unresolved, Lindner decided to leave the program and the sport after 12 years of throwing.
When interviewed about the coaching staff, male throwers on the team reportedly spoke highly of Dolan and Brooks. (Brooks is now the throwing coach at Harvard University.)
Unsupportive treatment
Other female UPenn throwers, including Nigeria’s Inumidun Oyebode and Canada’s Omonye Osezua, reported unsupportive treatment from coaches when they were returning from injuries. Oyebode alleged that Brooks threatened to cut her from the team; she left the program in January 2022. Osezua claimed that in January 2024, Dolan said the coaching staff decided it would be “best for the team” if she did not return.
Like mother, like daughter
Lindner’s mom, Kimberly, was also a thrower at UPenn; she graduated in 1993. Kimberly reportedly retired after her collegiate career, but began throwing again when her 10-year-old daughter wanted to try out the sport. Kimberly still throws today, and holds numerous U.S. masters track and field throwing titles.
