A star college gymnast has sued his former Stanford coach, alleging he was bullied while an athlete at the prestigious university.

Kaien J-Spencer accused the school's head coach Thom Glielmi of calling him 'annoying' and claiming he was a 'waste of medical and athlete-dining resources,' according to the lawsuit filed in California. 

J-Spencer allegedly suffered years of abuse under Glielmi while Stanford looked the other way due to the successful team bringing in loads of championships, his mother Jessica Jacobs told the Daily Mail. 

'It's crazy,' she said in a phone interview, adding that she reported the alleged abuse to the school, but that they 'ignored' her for two years.

J-Spencer, a two-time NCAA team champion, first participated on the varsity team in 2022, shortly after his father had died, the lawsuit said. 

While on the team, Glielmi allegedly questioned whether or not J-Spencer had any friends who 'actually liked him' and 'whether they knew him,' the lawsuit said. 

He also allegedly told the California native that he 'f**king annoyed the s**t' out of him after J-Spencer had successfully participated in a team competition and had asked to be considered for the subsequent lineup. 

Jacobs recalled getting a concerning text from her son, which she immediately reported to the elite school, only to be met with silence, she told the Daily Mail about allegations made in the lawsuit. 

'Stanford was on notice,' the mother alleged to the Daily Mail. 'They've ignored me for two years, even when I reached out to say my son was suicidal.' 

A Stanford spokesperson told the Daily Mail: 'The experiences and wellbeing of student-athletes are important to Stanford. We are unable to comment on pending litigation but will be responding to the claims in this lawsuit through the legal process.' 

The lawsuit alleged that the head coach removed J-Spencer from the team in August 2024, and he was only re-added after his mother intervened.

In May 2025, the young man filed a complaint with Stanford Athletics and Human Resources, claiming he faced manipulation, exclusion, public humiliation, denial of equitable coaching and harm to his emotional well-being while on the team. 

He also 'repeatedly contacted Stanford Athletic Director John Donahoe concerning the mistreatment and retaliation,' only to not receive a response, the lawsuit alleged. 

'Stanford received notice that the situation was causing Plaintiff severe anxiety, depression, impaired concentration, and a mental-health crisis, including a communication reflecting possible suicidal thoughts,' the lawsuit read. 

'Stanford did not provide Plaintiff a safety plan or protective intervention directed at the reported source of harm.' 

After making the complaints, J-Spencer alleged that Glielmi and other Stanford personnel began excluding him from ordinary coaching interaction and individualized feedback. 

When J-Spencer reached out to another coach for help in 2025, the athlete claimed Glielmi interfered and increased the 'purported requirements.' He claimed the other coach said Glielmi's instructions 'lacked a legitimate safety basis,' and appeared to be 'designed to make [J-Spencer's] participation more difficult,' the lawsuit said. 

J-Spencer also accused Glielmi of 'discouraging' other coaches from 'coaching or safely spotting' him, as well as preventing him from rotating at the qualifier. He also said the head coach 'attempted to prevent [him] from wearing the Stanford uniform at the meet,' the lawsuit said. 

Following qualifiers, the longtime head coach allegedly told J-Spencer in writing that he would 'have no opportunities to participate in team competition lineups,' but 'did not identify' on what grounds the exclusion was being made. 

'Plaintiff alleges that the categorical senior-year exclusion was retaliatory rather than a good-faith athletic decision,' the lawsuit said. 

When he was told he would not get to participate senior year, he transferred to the University of California at Berkeley, which cost him a total of $50,000. 

In summer 2026, he returned to Stanford to complete his degree requirements, the lawsuit said. 

In March 2026, an assistant coach allegedly submitted a report to Donahoe, describing his observations, including that he saw J-Spencer being 'shunned' and said he believed his boss was 'deliberately' making it harder for the athlete to compete. 

J-Spencer sought out mental health treatment due to Glielmi's actions, the lawsuit said. 

Jacobs told the Daily Mail her son was 'courageous' for bringing this lawsuit forward.

J-Spencer is now asking to recoup economic damages, including tuition, relocation and treatment. 

He is seeking more than $35,000 in damages, including attorney's fees. He is also demanding a jury trial.  

Glielmi has served as Stanford's gymnastics coach for 24 years and has won eight national championships, including in 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2026. 

The Daily Mail has reached out to Glielmi, Donahoe, the Board of Trustees and J-Spencer's lawyer for comment.