Insider Reveals Insight Into Joanna Maranhao’s Abuse Allegations

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil, February 15. WORD has come out on SwimNews.com that Brazilian swimmer Joanna Maranhao has alleged she was abused as a child. That information has led to the coach planning a lawsuit against Maranhao's mother, Therezinha, for directly naming him.

Legal experts in Brazil have stated that the statute of limitations to punish Miranda for any alleged molestation has expired, as the alleged incidents took place 11 years ago. Meanwhile, Miranda, who was suspended from his job in the education system and is no longer a competitive swim coach, has the right to sue Maranhao's mother.

Meanwhile, news from Bestswimming.com.br today states that an anonymous accuser has come forward also alleging molestation by Miranda.

SwimmingWorldMagazine.com, hoping to find a deeper understanding of the Maranhao situation, spoke with someone close to Maranhao who has request anonymity. The rest of this report is based on both media reports and confirmation from our inside source.

Maranhao first learned how to swim as a baby while at the Clube Portugues do Recife, where Maranhao's alleged molester Eugenio Miranda was employed and personally coached Maranhao from the ages of 7-9.

Our source stated that Miranda was a great man and great father at the time with two young children, and that he did a fantastic job of developing young swimmers without a lot of yardage in training.

In 1996, the club went through a change when several coaches left, including Miranda who went on to coach at Clube Nautico Capibaribe as Maranhao followed at the age of nine.

Maranhao alleges that the improper contact began at Nautica as Maranhao would sometimes be transported to and from practice with Miranda, as well as go shopping with his family or sleep over at his house.

Maranhao alleges that Miranda started molesting her at Nautico, which has been known to be a darkly-lit area, as well as at his own house. Maranhao has stated that she kept this quiet.

At the end of the season, Miranda left Nautico to coach at the Sport Club do Recife, while Maranhao's family took Joanna to her current club, Nikita Natacao.

According to our source, Maranhao grew up as a rude child who lacked many standard interpersonal skills. She encountered some psychological issues while growing up, and elected to go to therapy. At this time, she brought up the allegations of molestation and later revealed them to her coach and her family.

All of these allegations first became public last year at the Pan American Games, when during a National Team group therapy meeting, she revealed the alleged molestation to the shock of her teammates.

Later, during an interview with Gazeta Esportiva at the Font Romeo Altitude Training Center, Maranhao went mainstream with the public allegations by stating that she had been molested without naming Miranda directly.

This caused a media storm of attention within Brazil, as media members tried to figure out which swim coach was the accused molester. After much media pressure, Maranhao's mother named Miranda directly.

The rest of the story is still unfolding.

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