A new HBO documentary, Surviving Ohio State, reveals the shocking story of Dr. Richard Strauss, a former Ohio State University doctor who abused hundreds of male athletes over 20 years. The film features survivors speaking out for the first time.
The documentary, produced by George Clooney, premiered on HBO and Max on June 17. It uncovers how Strauss abused students from 1978 to 1998 while working as a sports doctor at Ohio State. Officials knew about complaints as early as 1979 but failed to act.
Strauss died by suicide in 2005. The scandal only became public in 2018 after survivors came forward. Ohio State has since paid over $60 million to settle lawsuits with 296 survivors. The school also offers counseling and medical treatment for victims.
Surviving Ohio State focuses on the wrestling team, where many athletes say they were abused. Some claim assistant coach Jim Jordan, now a U.S. Congressman, knew about the abuse but did nothing. Jordan denies these allegations.
The film shows how tough-guy stereotypes made it hard for male athletes to speak up. Many depended on scholarships and feared losing their spot on the team. One survivor said, “It was a dirty little secret that we all just tip-toed around.”
The documentary also compares the Ohio State case to other abuse scandals in sports, like those involving Larry Nassar at Michigan State and Robert Anderson at the University of Michigan. While those cases got more attention, the scale of abuse at Ohio State was just as large.
Director Eva Orner spent three years talking to survivors. She said many had never shared their full stories before. “They told me things they’d never told anyone,” she said. The film includes emotional interviews with former wrestlers and other athletes.
Ohio State has apologized and says it has made changes to prevent future abuse. The school set up an office in 2018 to handle misconduct complaints. However, no high-ranking officials agreed to be interviewed for the documentary.
The film does not provide new proof against Jim Jordan but reinforces survivors’ claims that he knew about Strauss. Some wrestlers say they complained to Jordan directly. “There’s no way that he didn’t know,” one survivor said.
Surviving Ohio State is now streaming on Max. It joins other documentaries about abuse in sports, like Athlete A and At the Heart of Gold. The film gives a voice to survivors who waited decades for justice.
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