British Gymnastics braced for ‘upsetting and difficult’ Whyte Review into abuse

British Gymnastics will today be ordered to repair its abusive culture and given a strict timetable to enforce a series of recommendations.

A 300-page report into widespread physical and emotional abuse in gymnastics – the culmination of a two-year investigation by Anne Whyte QC – will demand the sport makes the changes within a relatively short timeframe.

In what has been described as an “upsetting and difficult” read by those who’ve seen it, Whyte will conclude that in a number of cases gymnasts’ welfare has not been at the heart of the sport.

Whyte cites examples of the differing kinds of abuse suffered by mainly young girls at the hands of their coaches. These include but are not limited to, physical abuse, weight-shaming, emotional abuse and being forced to train on serious injuries.

The scale of the scandal is staggering and in the most extreme cases the effects of the mistreatment suffered by young athletes can be permanent. 

Many hundreds of gymnasts and others from the wider gymnastics community have given testimony concerning 90 clubs and more than 100 coaches, from grassroots to elite level.

Read more here https://www.itv.com/news/2022-06-16/british-gymnastics-braced-for-upsetting-and-difficult-review-into-abuse