A report published this week gave a devastating testimony to British Gymnastics (BG). On more than 300 pages, the lawyer Anne Whyte evaluated the experience reports of around 400 mostly underage gymnasts. She concluded that there had been “systemic” abuse in the sport. According to the report, many gymnasts have been subjected to physical punishment, verbal humiliation or unhealthy practices by their coaches. For example, young people were urged to train despite injuries, were not allowed to go to the toilet or drink as punishment, or had to hold out in awkward positions for long periods of time.
“This is not harsh coaching or light abuse, this is child abuse of athletes at a very young age,” former gymnast Nicole Pavier told the BBC. “It has a huge impact on the rest of our lives, both physically and mentally. This report shows that it’s not just a bunch of bad apples, as we were led to believe. We now know that there is a culture of abuse and that these are children who were abused in clubs and that there were a lot of children.”
Abuse was particularly pronounced in elite sport, the report concluded, which concluded that money and success mattered more than the athletes’ well-being. At the same time, precautionary measures were not sufficient and complaint processes were inefficient, it said.
BG CEO Sarah Powell reacted to the report on Thursday and announced reforms. “British Gymnastics accepts all recommendations and significant findings. We will not hesitate to take the necessary action. I would like to offer my heartfelt apologies to the gymnasts who have suffered because we have not held to our own standards.” , wrote Powell.
Source: Nachrichten
