Written by In mid-2020 a Netflix documentary about the sexual abuse inflicted upon US gymnasts by Larry Nassar was released. This film called ‘Athlete A’ outlines the former USA Gymnastics national team doctor’s abuse and the organisation’s failure to prevent it and paved the way for gymnasts around the world to expose the toxic culture of ‘control, compliance, and humiliation’ in gymnastics worldwide.
Australian Commonwealth Games dual gold medallist, Chloe Sims (now Gilliland) was contemplating suicide at 17, after suffering two years of bulimia and anxiety as a result of being called “heavy” and “stupid” daily by her coaches. Fellow Australian Alex Eade, who won gold in 2018, also recounts the body shaming and abuse that she suffered from the age of 12.
In July 2020, former English gymnast Nicole Pavier reported to BBC Sport that an eating disorder still “plagues” her life after being weighed every day of her career and developing bulimia at 14. Ten years on, and Pavier is still haunted by the “culture of fear” perpetuating within an environment she refers to as “mentally and emotionally abusive”.
The destructive cycle of this culture can’t be broken while these coaches are intent on instilling self-loathing in the hearts of these young athletes. Gymnastic clubs the world over need to promote a body-positive attitude in a healthy supportive culture that tolerates the differences in each individual and champions their strengths instead of cruelly leveraging their failures.
Gymnastics Australia (GA) has developed clear Codes of Behaviour in a Child Safe Policy and have embraced wellbeing and engagement through their Body Positive Guidelines developed in 2019 in collaboration with Sports Dietitian and Director of The Mindful Dietitian and Body Positive Australia Fiona Sutherland.
“These guidelines are incredibly important for our sport and show the great importance that we place on the health and well-being of all our athletes,” Gymnastics Australia Chief Executive Officer Ms Chiller AM said.
We can only wait and see whether these guidelines for acceptable behaviour by coaches, judges, parents, and support and administrative staff will be successful in preventing damaging abuse and providing the safe and inclusive culture that is needed for these young people to thrive.
https://www.gymnastics.org.au/Ga/Athletes/Body_Positive.aspx
https://www.marieclaire.com.au/olympic-gymnastics-australia-abuse-report
https://www.bbc.com/sport/gymnastics/53290256
https://www.powerplays.news/p/inside-the-culture-of-fear-that-permeates