"JUSTICE? IN MY SPORT? angels are singing from heaven" - Fans react to U.S. Olympic pairs figure skating coach Dalilah Sappenfield's lifetime ban

U.S. Olympic pairs figure skating coach Dalilah Sappenfield's lifetime ban over physical and psychological misconduct sent shockwaves in the figure skating world. Fans reacted to the news on social media and rallied behind the decision.

The U.S. Center for SafeSport delivered the verdict on Dalilah Sappenfield's future on Wednesday; the case had been under investigation for more than 2.5 years. Besides physical and emotional misconduct, the additional violations mentioned in the centralized disciplinary database are retaliation, proactive policy violations, misuse of the reporting process, and failure to report.

Sappenfield was already serving a temporary ban since 2021 after Tarah Kayne, a former figure skater, accused Sappenfield of verbal aggression and sexual remarks in 2021. It was reported that Kayne had slit her wrist in 2019 for the aforementioned reasons.

Christine Brennan, a USA Today columnist, broke the news of Sappenfield's ban on X (formerly Twitter):

"Breaking: U.S. Olympic pairs figure skating coach Dalilah Sappenfield was banned for life Wednesday afternoon by the U.S. Center for SafeSport for violations including emotional and physical misconduct."

The news was met with widespread appreciation from fans online who lauded the decision. One fan wrote on X:

"JUSTICE? IN MY SPORT? angels are singing from heaven"

Another fan sarcastically expressed:

"It took them long enough!"

Here are a few more reactions from fans online:

"This is great but the fact she was allowed to be at nationals is still inexcusable!" one fan commented.

"Thank goodness!" tweeted a fan.

"Holy smokes! I never thought she would be banned," wrote a surprised fan.

"What a horrible excuse for a human being. What parent would trust her to coach a minor child now that she’s been exposed and banned for these violations?" a fan wrote.

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Tarah Kayne accused Dalilah Sappenfield of emotional misconduct in 2021

Tarah Kayne (center) at the 2018 Prudential U.S. Figure Skating Championships - Day 4

Tarah Kayne issued a statement in 2021 about how Dalilah Sappenfield's actions had affected her mental health. Kayne told USA Today in 2021:

"She was constantly talking about s*x, about who I was dating, about my s*x life."

"It was completely inappropriate, but that’s what Dalilah does. She uses gossip from other skaters in the rink against you. She knew I was struggling with my mental health, but instead of helping me, she chose to make fun of me. She even went to other skaters and told them about it, calling me names and asking the guys why anyone would want to date me," she added.

Dalilah Sappenfield, USFSA Coach of the Year in 2008, previously mentored Alexa Knierim and Chris Knierim as well, the winners of three national championship titles.