Olympians slam gymnastics coaches

Former Olympians are demanding that gymnastics coaches are “held accountable” for the abuse exposed by the Whyte Review.

The long-awaited review, published on Thursday, revealed a damning picture of physical, emotional and sexual abuse of children in gymnastics, and exposed a coaching culture where medals were prioritised over athlete welfare.

Led by Anne Whyte QC, the 306page report laid bare British Gymnastics’ extensive failings and included 17 recommendations on how to reform the sport. But it did not name any of the 90 coaches accused of abuse, and former British Olympic gymnasts Jennifer Mcilveen (nee Pinches) and Hannah Whelan are leading calls for those involved to face consequences.

“One thing we still need to address is that so many coaches and figures in the sport, who led the culture of abuse, remain in place,” Mcilveen, who competed at London 2012, wrote in a column in The Telegraph. “The same leadership that reigned over an abusive culture cannot take the sport forward.”

Whelan, a two-time Olympian who is now a coach herself, echoed those sentiments. “To this day [British Gymnastics] have not done enough,” she said in a statement. “The coaches, staff and personnel involved must be held accountable.”

British Gymnastics’ new chief executive, Sarah Powell, said on Thursday that the governing body would enforce its complaints process against coaches whose behaviour had been flagged to them.

Some gymnasts, however, are taking matters into their own hands. Last week, Eloise Jotischky became the first of those with a legal claim against British Gymnastics to win a civil case, for abuse she experienced while at Heathrow Gymnastics Club.