Curl-Burke Swim Club Founder Charged With Child Abuse

Prominent swimming coach Richard Curl surrendered to police Thursday in a case in which a woman alleged she and Curl had a sexual relationship when she was a 13-year-old swimming student.

Curl, 63, was charged with child abuse. He is the founder of the Curl-Burke Swim Club in Damascus—a club known for training Olympic athletes.

Curl has been banned from USA Swimming and has stepped down as CEO of the club, which changed its name to the Nation's Capital Swim Club in the wake of the allegations.

In July, a former swim student, Kelley Currin, now 43, came forward in an article in The Washington Post alleging that a sexual relationship began between the two in 1983 at Georgetown Prepatory School, where the club leased the pool. Currin was 13 and Curl was 33 at the time.

Currin said she wanted to tell her story of the four-year relationship after having signed a non-disclosure statement in 1989 when her family first pursued the issue, The Post reported. Curl and Currin’s family reached an agreement under which the family would not pursue the case publicly, according to the report.

A warrant for Curl’s arrest was issued on Oct. 23, charging him with one count of child abuse stemming from his supervision of Currin as her swim coach, according to Montgomery County police. Curl surrendered to police Thursday.

Investigators said they believe sexual abuse began when Currin was 13 and continued for five years. Curl began coaching Currin when she was nine, police said.