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…
Olympic medallist Amy Tinkler has criticised British Gymnastics for the time it has taken to investigate her formal complaint over allegations of bullying and abuse within the sport. Tinkler said earlier this month she submitted a complaint in December 2019. In a new statement on social media,, external the 20-year-old said other girls had contacted…
There is a cultural issue within gymnastics coaching that must be resolved to tackle abuse, says the head of the sport’s ethics organisation. Alex McLin, director of the Gymnastics Ethics Foundation, added that coaches “with a certain methodology” need to change or leave the sport. He said that body shaming is an issue in the…
Accusations of abuse have been made against the internationally-renowned South Durham Gymnastics Club. Former gymnasts at the Spennymoor club say children as young as seven were bullied, fat-shamed and put in fear of their coaches. Some were put under pressure to exercise despite having broken bones, they said. The club said it “categorically denies any…
The British Athletes Commission and NSPCC have joined forces to launch a helpline to support athletes amid ongoing allegations of abuse within British gymnastics. The free helpline will be confidential and staffed by independent counsellors. Several gymnasts have come forward detailing their experiences of mistreatment in recent weeks. NSPCC chief executive Peter Wanless said the…
British Gymnastics has stepped aside from a review into allegations of widespread mistreatment in the sport to “remove any doubt” over the “integrity or independence” of the process. UK Sport and Sport England will now co-commission the independent review aimed at “bringing about positive change”. Several gymnasts have come forward detailing their experiences of mistreatment…
Olympic medallist Amy Tinkler says she made a formal complaint to British Gymnastics in December 2019 about her “experiences as a club and elite gymnast”. The 20-year-old, who won floor bronze at Rio 2016, says she is “no closer to having any feedback or outcome”. In a statement on social media on Tuesday, Tinkler, who…
A former gymnast has claimed a coach verbally abused her after she had snapped her foot in training, suffered taunts about her weight and was forced to wrap herself in clingfilm. Lamara Robb suffered in silence while training as she had set her heart on a medal at the Beijing games of 2008 – but…
British Gymnastics boss Jane Allen says she is “appalled and ashamed” following allegations of abuse within the sport. Chief executive Allen is under pressure after Olympians Becky and Ellie Downie claimed abusive behaviour in gymnastics became “completely normalised” and several athletes told the BBC of “a culture of fear” in the sport. An independent review…