An Olympic bobsledder alleged her doctor sexually abused her and photographed her and her team undressing, per a new lawsuit

• Aja Evans, an accomplished Olympic bobsledder, is accusing a team chiropractor of sexual abuse.
• Evans's lawsuit alleges Dr. Jonathan Wilhelm abused her despite reports to coaches and staff.

Olympic bobsledder Aja Evans filed a lawsuit alleging a USA Bobsled doctor sexually abused her for years, despite her reporting his behavior to multiple coaches and officials.

The lawsuit was filed Wednesday in the Essex County Supreme Court of New York State, and names Dr. Jonathan Wilhelm, and the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee as defendants.

The lawsuit compares Evans's treatment to survivors of Dr. Larry Nassar's abuse. Once a highly-regarded physician for USA Gymnastics, Nassar was accused by hundreds of women of abuse and molestation.

In 2018, after a trial that saw Olympic gymnastic stars and over 100 others testifying to years of molestation from Nassar, he was sentenced to 175 years in prison.

In 2021, USA Gymnastics proposed a $425 million settlement for survivors of his violence, with specific restitution for some survivors.

Evans's lawsuit alleges Wilhelm inappropriately touched and groped Evans under medical pretenses, was reported for recording and photographing Evans and other members of the team undressing without their consent, and was known among athletes as a man who would "always find a reason to 'go for the adductor'" muscle — a muscle of the hip that includes areas of the inner thigh.

Wilhelm's abuse was so severe, per the lawsuit, that both Evans and her teammates hired another team chiropractor using their own money to avoid being in his care.

A number of complaints from Evans and her teammates were disregarded by the US Olympic committees and the US bobsled team, adds the lawsuit, and Wilhelm was never investigated for his alleged behavior.

Michelle Simpson Tuegel, an attorney who previously represented survivors in the case Nassar and USA Gymnastics, is Evans's lawyer.

So far, Evans is the only public accuser of Wilhelm, but Tuegel told Insider that could change.

"If I've learned anything from these sports abuse cases it's that there are usually others," Tuegel said. "What I know Aja hopes comes from this lawsuit and comes from this path, is protecting other athletes."

Tuegel also said an important component of the case was racial discrimination in sports and the additional barriers women of color face to compete.

Athletes from the bobsled team described what they called "good ol' boys club" attitudes, with an almost all-white leadership team, Tuegel said.

Tuegel said the progression of the case could take time, with the next steps being serving all the defendants, and then gathering evidence and investigating.

Wilhelm's lawyer, Ryan Stevens, said Wilhelm was not publicly commenting on the case at present, but that he denies the "detestable claims" against him.

"He has not yet had the opportunity to defend any of these baseless claims in court or through the litigation process, but he looks forward to doing so," said Stevens in an email. "Dr. Wilhelm looks forward to vetting these unfounded claims and will pursue all legal avenues to protect his professional reputation."

A representative for the USA Bobsled-Skeleton team told Insider it could not comment on specifics of ongoing lawsuits, but condemned sexual misconduct, and said it would be cooperative in SafeSport investigations.

The US Olympic Paralympic Committee did not immediately respond to Insider's requests for comment.

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