Olympian Indicted Over Reflecting Pool | Raleigh News

Raleigh News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Jul 2, 2026 · 1m

A former Olympian is facing felony charges for allegedly damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, sparking a legal and public firestorm. David Hearn, a canoeist who competed in the Olympics, is accused of ripping sealant off the pool’s surface — causing over $1,000 in damage — and getting confrontational with a park employee. His defense claims he was simply curious, touched the peeling sealant briefly, and stopped when told to — then was detained for hours. The case coincides with a troubled renovation of the historic pool, plagued by algae, liner issues, and reports of vandalism —…