New thunderclap in a French sports federation... The Minister of Sports, Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, announced Sunday night that an investigation would be opened after the broadcast in the program Stade 2 of testimonies of six former gymnasts of the France team denouncing abuse.
Six former gymnasts, four of whom spoke with their faces uncovered, reported physical or psychological abuse by a senior leader of the artistic gymnastics France team and a coach. "What is needed is that we can open an investigation and we will do it tomorrow (Monday) morning with the teams of the Ministry of Sports," responded the minister on the plateau of Stade 2.
#STADE2 | @AOC1978 "This report is worth reporting, tomorrow morning we will open an investigation"
The Minister of Sports announces the establishment of an investigation following the Large Format on the physical and psychological violence of which some gymnasts say they have been victims. pic.twitter.com/1gfCfjsEuf
— francetvsport (@francetvsport) May 14, 2023
After refusing to answer questions from France Télévisions, the president of the FFGym James Blateau said in a statement to take "all the measure of the testimonies" and bring his "full support to the victims". "As a result, I have convened an exceptional meeting of the executive board of the federation on Monday to discuss the measures to be taken," he added. The minister had announced that she would summon James Blateau and the DTN of the FFGym.
"When are you going to stop getting fat?"
For the time being, the two persons targeted by these testimonies have not received any criminal or disciplinary sanctions and France Télévisions has not disclosed their identity. The investigation aired Sunday night reports that the coach was publicly denounced in 2007 for his methods in Switzerland, before he officiated in the France team, and was implicated in 2019 by a Mexican gymnast.
The second person targeted is "a woman (...), senior manager of the France team of gym for fifteen years". Former gymnast now aged 26, Valentine Sabatou explains to the camera that she was forced at 16 to participate in a demonstration despite a fractured ankle, while the coach was "aware" of this injury.
#STADE2 | "We can only be devastated by what we see"
The Minister of Sports, @AOC1978 reacts following the investigation of @thierryvildary for #Stade2 on abuse in the gym pic.twitter.com/G7rfbHoeS7
— francetvsport (@francetvsport) May 14, 2023
Marine Petit, 15 at the time, said she was slapped by the senior official after participating in a party around silver medalist Thomas Bouhail at the Beijing Games in 2008. "You are a goat, you suck, you are good for nothing (...) When are you going to stop getting fat? Clara Della Vedova denounces the many insults she has suffered, especially on her weight, like the other two athletes who speak on condition of anonymity.
The climate was so deleterious that after injuring an Achilles tendon before the London 2012 Games, she said she felt "a huge relief, because it was all over". The coach in question defended himself in writing to France Télé. If he disputes Valentine Sabatou's version concerning his injury, he admits to having said hurtful words.