Thank you to everyone who has expressed support for the gymnasts who started speaking out this week about the frightening and hurtful training conditions they have dealt with. Thank you to those who let me share their stories. What started as a trickle, organised amongst themselves and inspired by one another, has grown into a wave.
To any of the athletes who might be reading this: I hope that you are feeling okay. I hope that you are safe. I hope you can start to find healing, and I hope anybody reaching out to you for further comment or to express solidarity is doing so with tact and respect. Your bravery has spoken volumes.
Special shout out to elite gym Waverley Gymnastics Centre (home of former Olympic and World team members Bonora, Morgan, Miller and Folino) for asserting their support for the movement publicly on their Facebook page.
As all these stories have been coming to light, I have been particularly conscious of the news around the tragic passing of Australian pairs figure skater Ekaterina Alexandrovskaya this week. As with any young person, particularly those in a unique high-achiever space, young athletes deserve fair treatment in their training centres and safe outlets for the times that they feel anxious, afraid or in pain.
If you or someone you know is affected by this week's events, please reach out to Beyondblue or to Lifeline on 13 11 14.
Help is out there, and seeking it is not weak or giving up. It's one of the strongest things that you can do.
As mentioned in my main post below, Gymnastics Australia CEO Kitty Chiller issued an open letter acknowledging the stories coming out and mentioning the creation of a dedicated email address (again, see below for my none-too-pleased reaction to how they went about this!) and listening groups for affected athletes and their families. This statement appeared on their website but was not linked to any of their public social media accounts which I found puzzling.
Yesterday afternoon (Friday), GA released an additional statement from Chiller on their website and on social media accounts, featuring both text and video. GA has announced the establishment of an independent and confidential helpline, where abusive behaviour in the gym can be reported anonymously.
They also announced in this statement:
"We have established a Foundation Course Advisory Group with several athletes, who have aired their stories, offering to help develop and drive this new course. This group is charged with building an education framework based on the athlete first and athlete – coach partnership philosophy. The education framework will start with a foundation course that will be compulsory for all coaches and judges to complete in order to renew their Membership. Additionally, all affiliated clubs will be required to have their staff and volunteers complete the foundation course as well."
This is of course not the end of the issue of serious mistreatment in Australian gymnastics training centres. This is not the end of more stories coming out. This does not undo what's already been done. I do appreciate that GA is not denying or downplaying the painful stories coming out. But every voice, every story is a personal truth that still matters in this sport and real change can't start to take shape until accountability and visible, meaningful actions begin.
More. Work. Absolutely. Needs. To. Be. Done.
In the meantime, here are just some of the media outlets that have carried the story of gymnasts coming forward this week.
The Age/SMH (also appears in the Brisbane Times)
The Age - Greg Baum's follow up article on a previous abuse investigation at the AIS
Australian Associated Press
Newcastle Herald
The Guardian
7news.com.au
BBC World News
CNN
Fox Sports
9's Wide World of Sports
ESPN Australia and NZ
Best on Ground sports podcast
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