ABUSE LEFT ME DEALING WITH PTSD

FORMER England gymnast Nicole Pavier has told of the nightmares she still suffers – years after being abused in the sport.

She has also revealed that even now she feels “terrified” and “physically sick” when she smells the perfume worn by her coaches.

Pavier (above), who is 26 and works as a nurse, was one of more than 400 witnesses to provide testimony to the Whyte Review into the mistreatment of athletes within the sport. “When I was very young there was physical abuse, forcing me to physically do skills I was terrified of doing,” she said.

“Or forcing me to train on stress fractures in my back when I was crying in pain and not being believed.

“I wasn’t tied to the bar but we have these things called straps that are strapped up, and I was on that bar for so long that the blood was coming through my gloves and I was forced to continue.”

Pavier left that club in Bristol and moved to another in Nottingham, where the abuse was more psychological.

“Being made to feel like I was never good enough and then a lot of extreme weight management or weight-shaming techniques,” she told the Press Association.

“I spent that last year of my career in hospital having operations and also getting treatment for an eating disorder.” Pavier suffers from PTSD, adding: “I still have weird smell responses to the perfume my coaches wore. It makes me physically sick – like I’m just that terrified still.”

She now wants a register to be set up allowing parents to see if coaches had ever been suspended as part of a safeguarding investigation.

Two-time European champion Becky Downie (inset) said she feels “very hopeful” that, as a result of the Whyte Review, any future elite gymnast coming up within the British Gymnastics system will “not ever experience some of what the previous generations have”.

But four-time Olympic medallist Louis Smith tweeted: “If your wondering if the culture of fear is gone in British gymnastics. Then take a look to see how many active competing GB gymnasts publicly support the Whyte review.

“British gymnastics need to remember they don’t own anyone and having an opinion isn’t an attack!!”