A former Carleton Ravens water polo player pleaded guilty to sexual assault Nov. 9.
Kasia Hart, 26, will not serve jail time for kissing and fondling a 13-year-old girl four years ago.
The former Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Women of Influence Award winner was Carleton’s outstanding graduating female athlete in 2008 and was studying to be a teacher at the University of Ottawa when the charges were laid, the Ottawa Citizen reported.
The victim was a member of a water polo team Hart once coached.
Hart has received 18 months probation and a suspended sentence, but she is now a registered sex offender, effectively ending her desire to be a teacher or coach Canada’s national water polo team.
“The pain is still there from what happened, and honestly I’m not sure it will ever go away. Kasia was my first love and my first sexual experience. She used me, and I know now that it was all a lie for her,” said the now 18-year-old victim in a victim impact statement.
“I am not doing this to hurt her or for revenge. I am doing this so she can never do this to anyone else.”
In court Hart apologized, saying that she would pay for it through the loss of her teaching career.
“Today, everything I have achieved and worked for academically and athletically is gone forever.”