Gymnastics scandal in Stuttgart: Exempt trainers do not return

The Stuttgart gymnastics scandal is having its first far-reaching personnel consequences. The coaching duo, who had been temporarily released up to and including this Sunday, will not return to training in the Artistic Gymnastics Forum. A corresponding report from the “Stuttgarter Nachrichten” and the “Stuttgarter Zeitung” coincides with information from the DPA news agency.

Several former gymnasts had recently made serious allegations against the work at the federal base in Stuttgart. “Systematic physical and mental abuse” and catastrophic circumstances were criticized. The German Gymnastics Federation (DTB) and the Swabian Gymnastics Federation (STB) are in the process of coming to terms with what happened.

In the past few days, national coach Gerben Wiersma and junior national coach Claudia Schunk have also taken on assignments in Stuttgart.

Further news in the investigation process is expected in the coming days – including the composition of the investigative commission that the DTB wants to install and which will look into the allegations in more detail.

The allegations, which were made public around the turn of the year by former top gymnasts Tabea Alt and Michelle Timm, among others, led to strong public criticism of the conditions at the Stuttgart base. The German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) and the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Culture had called for a detailed review.

Alt accused the German Gymnastics Association of delaying the investigation into grievances at the Kunst-Turn-Forum Stuttgart. According to the “Stuttgarter Zeitung/Stuttgarter Nachrichten” (Saturday), she initially felt heard, but then quickly got the impression that the matter was being left to fizzle out.

“At some point I thought, are they actually kidding me? If they had really understood my appeal at the time, then certain actions would have had to follow. That was also what was discussed,” said the 2017 World Cup bronze medalist on the balance beam. She ended her career in 2021 and drew the attention of the DTB to the grievances in Stuttgart in a letter. Most recently, numerous gymnasts, led by her and Michelle Timm, made further allegations of abuse. Among other things, “systematic physical and mental abuse” was denounced.

The Athletes Germany Association had expressed the hope that the public statements on the scandal could also offer an opportunity for improvement. The head of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Thomas Bach, said that he hoped for a “change in consciousness”.