LA water polo star breaks silence after claims of teammate’s intercourse assault

A black water polo star has damaged his silence after dropping bombshell sexual assault and racism claims towards certainly one of his white teammates.

Aidan Romain, now 18, sat down with Vainness Truthful for an explosive interview, sharing stunning particulars of months-long harassment whereas he was on the elite Harvard-Westlake faculty in California.

“It was simply straight, blatant racism,” he advised journal. The water polo prodigy recalled the primary time he says he was sexually assaulted by Lucca Van der Woude, one of many folks named in his lawsuit.

Throughout one occasion whereas he was eggbeating water, he felt somebody seize his buttocks and insert a finger. The expertise shocked him — much more so when he realized it was his teammate, Lucca.

“I used to be like, ‘Why did you try this? What are you doing?’” Aidan stated. “He simply laughed.”

Aidan additionally alleged a number of situations wherein he was racially focused and referred to as slurs, together with a shortening of the N-word.

In keeping with the lawsuit, a participant named Kim and Van der Woude “continually dehumanized” him and used the slur often.

“They weren’t making an attempt to cover it,” Aidan stated. “When the lights would flip off, they might say, ‘The place’s Aidan?’ or ‘The place’s arbitrary black individual?’”

He described the ambiance as relentless and overtly racist. “It was simply straight, blatant racism,” he stated.

The grievance additionally alleges Kim and Van der Woude “whipped” Aidan within the weight room with a sports-equipment-grade leap rope in what the swimsuit describes as “a re-enactment of slavery,” whereas saying, “Get again to work!”

One other incident allegedly occurred throughout a staff journey to Spain with the Los Angeles Premier Water Polo Membership, the place gamers educated at Membership Natació Barcelona.

In keeping with the lawsuit, a teammate started chanting the N-word at one other black participant on the staff bus.

When that participant advised him to cease, one other teammate allegedly warned Aidan and the opposite participant to maintain quiet, telling them no person would imagine “two black gamers” over the remainder of the group.

All of this has taken a toll on Aidan’s household.

“I used to be in shock that Aidan may have advised folks on the faculty and nobody did something,” Alex Romain, Aidan’s dad, stated.

“Nobody stated something. Nobody advised us.” He wiped his eyes. “We haven’t actually slept since October 2023.”

The Romain household says the ordeal spanned greater than two years. Aidan joined the varsity staff in August 2022 and, in fall 2023, he and his dad and mom formally reported racial abuse. Inside days, the college concluded no assault had occurred.

On February 28, 2024, Van der Woude was arrested. On November 7, 2024, he admitted in juvenile court docket to sexual penetration with a overseas object towards a minor below a plea deal; the cost involving Aidan was later dropped.

Now, Aidan and his household have filed a civil lawsuit towards Harvard-Westlake, faculty officers and Van der Woude.

“What vary of feelings? Ours? Once we simply came upon our son was assaulted for 18 months? Whenever you say you’re sympathetic to a spread of feelings in a state of affairs the place not less than two minors have been sexually assaulted by one other individual, it solely confirms that your highest goal will not be truly to guard all of the minors in your care. Is there some other applicable response apart from outrage?” Alex advised Selection.

Van der Woude maintains his innocence regardless of pleading responsible in prison court docket.

“Lucca denies all of the allegations towards him as we perceive have been made by the Romain staff,” his attorneys wrote in a letter to Condé Nast.

“There have been no witnesses to those claims and there have been no complaints for over 18 months.”

Relating to the civil swimsuit, his attorneys added: “We don’t intend to litigate this matter within the media. Mr. Van der Woude’s denials and different responses can be clear and unambiguous in his protection to the Criticism at hand.”

The varsity — which has $832 million in gross belongings and, in accordance with its scholar newspaper, an endowment of round $250 million — has publicly denied wrongdoing and stated it acted appropriately.

In a press release offered to Vainness Truthful, the college stated it “unequivocally disputes many of those allegations that mischaracterize details and the college’s actions.”

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