A group of 17 former gymnasts, including three Olympians, have begun legal action against the sport’s governing body British Gymnastics, claiming abuse by coaches immersed in a “winning at all costs” culture that has left many of them with lasting psychological and physical damage. The gymnasts are all women and at the time of the…
A new campaign group for gymnasts wants to see the creation of a body to monitor abuse claims in the same way doping is controlled. Gymnasts for Change has been set up in the wake of allegations of abusive coaching practices in the sport. British former Olympic gymnast Jennifer Pinches and campaigner Claire Heafford are…
British Gymnastics has set up an independent complaints process to oversee allegations of mistreatment by athletes. The organisation had already begun an independent review in the summer following gymnasts’ complaints. “We have a duty of care to our members,” said British Gymnastics chair Mike Darcey. The new process will “provide an independent means of addressing…
ITV News has led the way in exposing a catalogue of allegations of physical and mental abuse and bullying across British Gymnastics. Here’s a breakdown of the stories we have brought into the open and the timeline of events. July 6 – ITV News Exclusive ‘Beaten and Starved’ stuns the sport. Gymnast Catherine Lyons and…
Two gymnasts have made allegations of mistreatment by British Gymnastics head coach Amanda Reddin. One, named Jenny, made claims dating back to the 1980s which include accusations of physical abuse from the ages of 9-12, which caused “immense pain”. Rio Olympian Ruby Harrold said Reddin presided over a “culture of fear” at British Gymnastics camps…
In an interview with BBC, Munday stated: “All our work with [British Gymnastics] over the last few years has given us confidence they want to take allegations seriously.” The welfare group has blasted Munday, suggesting in a statement that allegations have not been taken seriously in the past and that there was a “culture of…
UK Sport chief executive Sally Munday has vowed to “root out” people “not doing the right thing” in gymnastics after a series of “disturbing allegations”. Several British gymnasts have come forward detailing their experiences of abuse in recent weeks. “Like most people who’ve listened to those allegations, it upsets me,” Munday told BBC Sport. “All…