Group of 17 ex-gymnasts begin legal action against British Gymnastics
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 alleged abuse were aged between six and 23.
As first reported by ITV News in September the allegations range from physical abuse and pressure to train on injuries to body-shaming leading to eating disorders, bullying and unnecessary punishments.
The specific claims are laid out in a 26 page letter from the group’s lawyers. The catalogue of alleged abuse inside British Gymnastics’ affiliated gyms includes:
- Coaches punching and kicking gymnasts who failed to execute certain skills
- Children forced to take strong medication to train through pain
- Gymnasts being forced to train wearing weights as punishment
- Gymnasts being forced to wear a “fat-suit” if they gained weight
- Children ordered to follow nutritionally and calorie deficient diets
Some of the claimants also say they felt powerless to complain about their treatment because many of the coaches and other British Gymnastics staff, including welfare officers, had close personal relationships. Relationships the letter says that: ‘perpetuated a closed circuit of authority.’
Olympian Jem Pinches who founded the #gymnastalliance movement and is part of the legal action said: “For too long we have seen British Gymnastics prioritise podiums over people which has led to untold damage to the lives of young people. It is a heart-breaking truth to face, knowing the level of abuse that we and so many others were subjected to.”
Read more here https://www.itv.com/news/2021-02-25/group-of-17-ex-gymnasts-begin-legal-action-against-british-gymnastics