‘Part of you just collapses inside’: Olympian’s mum opens up on ‘devastating’ claims against her son

Former Olympic figure skater Brendan Kerry has been banned for life in the US over alleged sexual misconduct of a minor, yet his mother is standing by him as they fight to prove he is innocent.

Australia’s Brendan Kerry has been hit with a US ban over alleged sexual misconduct. Picture: Getty Images

Monica MacDonald’s maternal instincts kicked in the moment she heard her son was in trouble.

On Wednesday morning, MacDonald got a call from her boy Brendan Kerry that changed both their lives in a flash.

A three-time Olympic figure skater who was given the honour of carrying the Australian flag at the 2022 Beijing Winter Games, Kerry was so distraught that he could hardly speak to his mum, so just told her to look him up on the internet.

Without any prior notice to Kerry or Australian sports officials, the US Centre for SafeSport had just announced that Kerry had been banned for life over an alleged sexual misconduct of a minor.

The US media giant ESPN had already got themselves a copy of the confidential case findings so published a detailed report that went worldwide, revealing the serious claims made against Kerry.

The 29-year-old denies the accusations against him, which are not the subject of criminal charges, and is planning an appeal. But while his case is far from finished, the news sparked a frenzy of unproven accusations on social media.

Brendan (left), with mum Monica MacDonald and John Kerry

MacDonald says her son is innocent and will prove it when he gets his day in court but they can’t explain why yet because they’re both under strict orders not to talk about the case while it’s still ongoing.

“We’ve got nothing to hide but we can’t discuss the case,” MacDonald said.

“People can be very quick to kind of come to conclusions, when they don’t know the facts and they don’t know what’s going on and we can’t say things.

“I just think people maybe should step back one day and just go ‘what if that was my kid?’

“Just don’t accept everything that you hear or read and just give them a chance.”

After breaking the news to his mother, Kerry packed his bags, collected his two dogs, and drove to his parent’s home, where he’s now living.

He stood down from his job coaching kids at the Macquarie Ice Rink and resigned from the board of NSW Skating.

MacDonald called the Australian Professional Skaters Association and told them she was quitting as president, not because of any perceived conflicts of interests, but because her priority was to her son.

“It’s devastating to him. It’s devastating to our family,” she said.

“I really don’t give a shit what people want to say, what people want to think. It’s more about making sure my son survives through this.”

Brendan Kerry was Australia’s flag bearer in Beijing. Picture: Getty Images

The charges against Kerry are serious and involve two young women, who were 17 at the time. Kerry says their encounters were consensual, according to ESPN. The women dispute this.

Established by Congress in 2017 to protect young American victims from sexual abuse, SafeSport does not have the authority to impose sanctions outside US borders, but its rulings can have deadly consequences.

In 2018, SafeSport suspended American figure skater John Coughlin over an unspecified sexual assault claim that he denied. A day later, Coughlin hung himself.

In 2019, US equestrian coach Robert Gage also took his own life after he was suspended for life for sexual misconduct of a minor, the same penalty and charges made against Kerry.

MacDonald, who also skated for Australia at the Olympics, said she had been heartened by the messages of support she had received from all around the world but knows the fight to try and clear her son’s name is only just beginning.

“Our absolute priority at this time is looking after Brendan, looking after his safety, making sure we keep his mental well-being in the right place,” she said.

“We have no idea how long it’s going to last. Our focus has to be on him 100 per cent. So that’s where he’s at and we’re here with him to support him.

Brendan Kerry and his mother can’t talk about the case.

“In that moment as a mother, part of you just collapses inside.

“When you see your son just devastated and confused and saying ‘I don’t know what’s going on’ so we’re dealing with all of those emotions.

“And in the midst of feeling all those sorts of things, you have to find a strength that is going to make him feel safe and pull him through.

“It doesn’t matter how close I am to breaking, I have to stand in front of my son and let him feel he’s safe.

“If Brendan and I were allowed a voice, we would have a lot more to say, but we’re not. I don’t want anybody to think that us saying we can’t say anything or having to stay silent is anything but a sign of us continuing to completely respect the procedures that have been placed on us.

“It’s an awful process.”

Originally published as ‘Part of you just collapses inside’: Olympian’s mum opens up on ‘devastating’ claims against her son