The sickening findings show that winning is not everything

NOT too long ago, my daughter was seven years of age and enjoyed gymnastics.

As sad as it is to say it, thank heavens she was not brilliant at it. Otherwise, she might have been spotted by British Gymnastics – and abused.

It is truly sickening. But the deeply appalling truth is that not one word of the chilling report from Anne Whyte (above) – not the fat-shaming, not the strapping to bars, not the emotional abuse, not the submissions citing sexual abuse – came as a surprise.

The Whyte review exposes the ‘epidemic of abuse’ in gymnastics but it could easily be a stomach-churning commentary on the culture of so much elite sport here and around the world.

UK Sport denies suggestions there has ever been a cash-for-medals system when it comes to financial support. Really?

It is indisputable that money is distributed on the basis of success or failure, particularly at the Olympics.

That is why they set medal targets. Cyclists do well at the Games in London in 2012? Here’s your millions.

Basketball teams do not do well? Your money’s gone.

There is £13million worth of funding going into British Gymnastics in this current Olympic cycle and the way to get more going forward is to get medals. Simple.

There will have been some coaches who are just sadistic abusers who should be in prison. But the mentality that has surged into sports such as gymnastics is that winning is everything and the heinous crimes outlined in this report is acceptable.

It is not. They say lessons will be learnt and changes made going forward.

Good. But let’s see what the police have to say about it. Because this is nothing if not criminal... on every level.