Review’s 390 submissions reveal true extent of abuse claims in gymnastics
Almost 400 individual submissions were made to the Whyte Review, it has been revealed, as the first alarming details from the independent review into British Gymnastics were released yesterday.
The number gave a comprehensive picture of how far-reaching the alleged “culture of fear” and abuse exposed last summer actually stretches across the sport.
An interim report showed 390 submissions were made to the review’s call for evidence – which closed in October – with 39 referrals made to the statutory authorities. Referrals were made in cases where reviewers suspected a child was at risk or that criminal conduct may be ongoing.
Anne Whyte QC, the lead reviewer, said the volume of submissions “exceeded expectations” and included 126 from former or current gymnasts and 145 from parents or guardians. They identified more than 90 clubs and 100 coaches, and detailed alleged “reoccurring issues”. These include:
➤Bullying
➤Belittling
➤Extreme weight management ➤Regular over-stretching
➤Use of excessive physical force
➤Training on serious injuries
➤Gaslighting
➤Coercive control
➤A reluctance to raise complaints or lack of opportunity to do so.
Whyte estimated that the final verdict and full report would be published by the end of August at the earliest, more than a year after
the first allegations came to light and after the Tokyo Olympics.
Of the 390 submissions, 272 were sent directly to the Whyte Review, with the remainder made via the British Athletes Commission and NSPCC hotline, which was set up to help gymnasts seek support in July and had more than 220 contacts before being closed last month.
The Whyte Review was co-commissioned by Sport England and UK Sport last August, in response to growing calls for an independent inquiry into allegations of abuse at the heart of gymnastics in the UK.
A number of prominent gymnasts, including Olympic bronze medallist Amy Tinkler, and world medallists Becky and Ellie Downie, went public on the emotional hardship and mental health struggles they say they suffered at the hands of coaches and a “culture of fear” operating throughout their governing body’s organisation. It also led a group of 17 gymnasts to take legal steps against British Gymnastics last month.
Alastair Marks, interim CEO of British Gymnastics as of January, said yesterday: “We are fully committed to doing everything possible to help the review get the answers it needs to do what is right for the sport and gymnasts,” he said.
“I remain appalled by the claims I have heard and alarmed that some gymnasts do not feel that they can have their voice heard and have a future within the sport. I want to be clear to them that I will fight to ensure that no one raising concerns will ever see their gymnastic opportunities detrimentally impacted. There is no place for abuse in our sport and we are determined to change it for the better.”
Whyte asked British Gymnastics to provide data on complaints made to it since 2008 – the period covered by the review. The interim report revealed that there are 327 open investigations at British Gymnastics,
from complaints made in 2020. However, it has failed to provide all the information requested. Of the estimated 3,500 closed cases in its records, it has provided only around 660, due to “the human resources involved in extracting the requested data” being “onerous”.
“I am in the process of deciding with British Gymnastics the appropriate course to take in obtaining as much information about the closed 2008 to 2016 complaints as I consider necessary,” Whyte wrote.
Reviewers have interviewed 64 people, with plans to interview 19 more to have a representative sample of the 390 submissions. Upon completion of that process in midmarch, they will start interviewing relevant people brought up during those 80 conversations, including “employees or officials associated with British Gymnastics” who hold relevant information. That next step is expected to begin next month.
Lobbying group Gymnasts for Change, founded by Olympian Jennifer Pinches and former elite gymnast Claire Heafford – who both form part of the group launching legal action against British Gymnastics – said in a statement: “Today’s admission that 390 submissions have been made to the Whyte Review confirms the scale of the problem in gymnastics and comes as a surprise to nobody involved in the sport in Britain.
“Going back to 2008, British Gymnastics have had thousands of reports regarding safeguarding and athlete welfare, but only decided to take action in 2020 after media pressure from gymnasts forced their hand.
“We are saddened to learn of the scale of the negligence over the past 12 years, which represents so many missed opportunities for athletes to have been protected. We’re also firmly of the view that the Whyte Review in no way takes full account of the true scale of the issues which date back over 40 years.”