Gymnastic federation must take real action
BOSTON – Slogans and buzzwords aren’t enough to fix the mess USA Gymnastics is in.
USA Gymnastics CEO Kerry Perry finally emerged from behind the curtain Sunday, holding her first extended question-and-answer session with the media since taking over Dec. 1. But she offered nothing of substance, and if she responds to athletes’ concerns as vaguely and indirectly as she responded in the 22minute session, the organization is in the wrong hands.
Perry talked repeatedly about forging a path forward and making sure athletes, past and present, know that USA Gymnastics is their biggest advocate. Yet when asked about the anxiety athletes and coaches have expressed over the lack of national team training camps and their dismay over
the abrupt firing of the head of the women’s program, the best Perry could manage is that change is hard.
Not even a question about the criticism raised by Simone Biles, the greatest gymnast of all time and the best thing USA Gymnastics has going these days, could get Perry to divert from her talking points and offer some substance. Or show some emotion.
“I respect her opinion, and know that as an organization, the kinds of changes that we’re making can be a little scary, can be a little daunting,” Perry said. “I want her and all of our athletes to know we have their best interests at heart.”
That’s the problem: They don’t believe that. Nobody does.
Look, changing the culture that allowed a predator such as Larry Nassar to thrive and restoring the organization’s reputation is a Herculean task, one that will take years, if not decades, to achieve. Perry has made it far harder than it needs to be and, worse, and there’s no indication she realizes that.
Yes, the lawsuits filed against USA Gymnastics by Nassar’s survivors limit what Perry can say and, in some respects, even do. But by ducking questions and essentially being a ghost for the last eight-plus months — she’s held three teleconferences since she was hired and had one off-the-record session with media members at last month’s U.S. Classic — she is perpetuating the very lack of transparency that got USA Gymnastics into this crisis.
“I’ve heard talk about transparency,” said Oklahoma coach Mark Williams, who coached the men’s team at the Rio Olympics. “I’ve not seen a lot of that.”
Perry said she’s talked to athletes, parents, club owners, even survivors who have told her they’re encouraged by the changes USA Gymnastics is making. So where are they? Go to a gymnastics meet, talk to just about anyone in the sport, and all you’ll hear is how disap- pointed they are in Perry and the job she’s doing.
“Hopefully it’s going in the right direction but nobody can know until Kerry Perry speaks up,” Biles said last week. “So it’s kind of hard.”
There are small things Perry could say and do that would go a long way in showing she and the organization are sincere, that there is action behind all this talk of change.
Take this weekend’s national championships. This would have been the perfect time to honor the Nassar survivors and promote abuse prevention. Paint teal ribbons on the podium and give T-shirts promoting an awareness group to every kid who walks through the door. Invite survivors and recognize them on the floor before Sunday night’s women’s final, or at the end, before medals are awarded.
Is USA Gymnastics doing that? “In terms of recognition, I hope it’s clear, and we’re going to continue to communicate that it’s clear, that we are all of our athletes’ advocates. That we are here, USA Gymnastics exists, because of our athletes,” Perry said. “Celebrating like competitions today, celebrating their success and celebrating what the sport of gymnastics does, for our athletes not just as they’re competing but beyond is really important to all of us.
“As I think of our survivors, and I’ve been asked this question a lot, what do I envision in the future, and I’ve said, I envision our survivors standing side by side with our organization and making changes as we continue down this path. That’s really important to me.”
So that’s a no on any recognition of the survivors.
“I would say that overall, we’re going to constantly recognize and make sure that our athletes know that we have their best interests in mind,” Perry said, “including our survivors.”
That’s not only nonsensical, it’s condescending.
And it’s not leadership. Certainly not the kind USA Gymnastics so desperately needs.