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Artistic gymnast on the balance beam (symbol image)
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Mistreatment, humiliation and sexual abuse: A report published this week gave a devastating testimony to British Gymnastics (BG).
On more than 300 pages, the lawyer Anne Whyte evaluated the experience reports of around 400 mostly underage gymnasts who were active for the association between 2008 and 2020.
She concluded that there had been "systemic" abuse in the sport.
According to the report, many gymnasts have been subjected to physical punishment, verbal humiliation or unhealthy practices by their coaches.
For example, young people were urged to train despite injuries, were not allowed to go to the toilet or drink as punishment, or had to hold out in awkward positions for long periods of time.
Abuses are particularly prevalent in elite sport, according to the report, which concluded that money and success matter more than athletes' well-being.
At the same time, protective measures were not sufficient and complaints processes were inefficient.
Ex-gymnast speaks of "child abuse"
Former gymnast Nicole Pavier rated the "Whyte Review" as a success for the injured.
"This isn't about tough coaching and light abuse, it's about child abuse by athletes at a very young age," Pavier told the BBC.
"It has an enormous impact on the rest of our lives, both physically and mentally." The 25-year-old had made public in 2020 how a "culture of fear" in British gymnastics had driven her into an eating disorder: "This report shows that these are not just a few black sheep, as we were led to believe.«
The group »Gymnasts for Change«, whose co-founder Claire Heafford had already participated in a class action lawsuit against British Gymnastics in 2021, criticized the report's recommendations as not far-reaching enough.
"We are calling on British Gymnastics to introduce a new maximum training hour limit for child athletes," it said in a statement.
BG CEO Sarah Powell reacted to the report on Thursday and announced reforms.
»British Gymnastics accepts all recommendations and material findings.
We will not shy away from taking the necessary measures.
I want to offer my heartfelt apologies to the gymnasts who have suffered because we have not held to our own standards," Powell wrote.
cev/dpa/AP