ABUSE VICTIMS URGED TO COME FORWARD
UK Sport probe British gymnasts’ shocking claims
UK SPORT has launched an urgent investigation into the ‘shocking and upsetting’ allegations that dozens of British gymnasts have been physically and mentally abused by their coaches.
In response, British Gymnastics confirmed last night that there will also be an independent inquiry into the mistreatment of athletes, after a series of astonishing claims from multiple gymnasts.
These include one former European junior champion, Catherine Lyons, detailing harrowing incidents in which she says she was beaten with a stick and shut in a cupboard after crying during training.
Weight shaming is also said to be common in the sport, according to Lyons, 19, and Lisa Mason, a Commonwealth Games gold medallist. In further startling claims, Mason, 38, said she was forced to train until her hands bled when she was ten and in a tweet yesterday she claimed abuses are still happening in the sport today.
Mason alleges British Gymnastics, the body which oversees the sport, have not done enough to address the concerns.
In a tweet prior to the announcement of a review, she wrote: ‘I keep saying most of the time BG are aware and do nothing.’
Numerous other British gymnasts have commented on social media and others are understood to be poised to speak out — sparked by the Netflix documentary Athlete A, which detailed the harrowing failings that allowed Dr Larry Nassar to sexually abuse gymnasts in the US.
UK Sport, who have distributed £16.5million to British Gymnastics in the current Olympic cycle, called yesterday on athletes to come forward with information.
A UK Sport spokesperson said: ‘These allegations are shocking and upsetting. There is absolutely no place for any sort of bullying or abuse in sport and anyone responsible for such behaviour must be held accountable, with support offered to those affected.
‘We treat safeguarding matters with the utmost importance and all our investments into national governing bodies are contingent on a sport meeting standards set out by the Child Protection in Sport Unit.
‘The integrity of the highperformance system is paramount and so we are quickly but thoroughly working to establish the facts with British Gymnastics before deciding on the appropriate response.
‘It is essential that all athletes feel comfortable to share concerns they may have in a safe and confidential environment. The British Athletes Commission are available to all athletes and offer independent, confidential advice and support which we’d urge athletes to use.’
British Gymnastics previously condemned ‘any behaviour which is harmful to the wellbeing of our gymnasts’ and yesterday announced an independent review to be led by Jane Mulcahy QC.
Jane Allen, CEO of British Gymnastics, said: ‘The behaviours we have heard about are completely contrary to our standards of safe coaching and have no place in our sport. The British Gymnastics Integrity Unit is set up to investigate all allegations when reported or identified by our national network of club and regional welfare officers.
‘However, it is clear that gymnasts did not feel they could raise their concerns to British Gymnastics and it is vital that an independent review helps us better understand why, so we can remove any barriers.’
Becky Downie (above), who won world silver last year, tweeted: ‘To all those gymnasts out there that I know are hurting still, I can honestly say squad camps and most gym training is nothing like it was. You wouldn’t believe the positive changes.
‘Unfortunately coaches are still copying old behaviours, knowing many top coaches still use those methods to produce results.
‘When we start to put athlete wellbeing before results we will start to see a change.’