The Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has recommended major reform in the sport of gymnastics after an independent review uncovered an abusive and a “win-at-all-costs” culture that creates “unacceptable risks” for the safety and wellbeing of young women and girls.
The report called '', released on Monday, made 12 recommendations around five key findings.
These findings detailed negative coaching behaviours that create a risk of harm or abuse to athletes, body shaming practices that can cause long-term eating disorders, a silencing of the athlete voice and a failure to adequately address complaints of abuse and harm.
The commission engaged with Gymnastics Australia in August 2020 to conduct the review following repeated claims of abuse in the sport. It interviewed 57 members of Australia’s gymnastics community and heard 138 written submissions.
Some gymnasts spoke of inappropriate coaching behaviours that left athletes too scared to speak up.
“Coaches were allowed unrestrained practices and could push gymnasts to do whatever they considered appropriate,” said one gymnast.
“Gymnastics is a sport where young female athletes are pushed into believing that success is dependent upon compliance, punishment and restriction,” said another. “At such an impressionable age, young athletes are taught that they must comply with any requests from coaches.”
‘White culture’
Those within the sport also spoke of its lack of cultural diversity, with one athlete describing the sport as a “white culture”.
“A few participants spoke about the difference in treatment of children based on their skin colour,” the gymnast said.
Another said “the white boys were the golden boys and the dark boys had, you know, an ongoing level of negativity that the others weren’t subject to”.
The prejudice also appeared to extend to those with disabilities.
“It is not very inclusive,” said one gymnast. “Despite several gyms having ‘all ability’ classes, the gym we were involved with had the participants with extra needs in a different room with very limited equipment and equipment provided was very old.”
The investigation also heard from parents, who voiced concerns for the wellbeing of their children that they felt was not shared by the club.
“I feel like it’s a bit one-sided. It’s like, what the gymnastic centre can get out of me for the fees and fundraising. But it’s not a reciprocated relationship, it feels a bit one-way,” said one parent.
“If your child gets a medal, that’s meant to satisfy you, but I’m not doing it for the medals. If she gets one, that’s great. But that doesn’t tick my box. I want to know she’s well.”
Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins, who took charge of the investigation, commended the bravery of those who shared their experiences and said the “high proportion of extremely young female athletes in the sport was highlighted as one of the risks unique to gymnastics”.
Of the approximately 231,000 participants in gymnastics in Australia, 77 per cent are female and 91 per cent are under the age of 12.
Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins said the abusive and competitive culture of gymnastics was putting young people at risk. Source: SBS News
Gymnastics is the second most popular sport for girls aged five to eight after swimming.
Speaking to the media on Monday, Ms Jenkins condemned the abusive and competitive culture of the sport that was putting young people at risk.
“The review identified an overarching win-at-all-costs approach to the sport, where gymnasts and former gymnasts often felt that competitive success was put ahead of their safety and wellbeing,” she said.
“The commission does not accept that breaching fundamental human rights is necessary for success in sport. On the contrary, success is only possible where the human rights of athletes are respected and protected.”
‘Lead the way on gender equality’
Ms Jenkins said the report was “an opportunity for gymnastics in Australia to lead the way on child safety and gender equality”.
An executive summary of the report said it was up to the sport of gymnastics to “challenge stereotypes of how young women and girls should behave and appear”.
“Gymnasts have always been strong, powerful and capable,” said the report. “It is time for gymnastics as a global sport to recognise and celebrate this fact.”
The 12 recommendations included changes in coaching methods, improved coach accountability, the inability of coaches to engage with athletes under the age of 18 on social media, improved education around abuse, greater support of athletes through advisory councils and support programs to address and prevent eating disorders, and external investigations around all matters of abuse.
A key recommendation was a formal apology to any gymnasts who may have been affected by abuse within the sport in the past.
The AHRC has recommended major reform in the sport of gymnastics after an independent review uncovered repeated claims of abuse. Source: AFP
‘Clearly more to be done’
In a statement on Monday, Gymnastics Australia thanked those who had come forward to share their stories and apologised to all those who had experienced abuse.
“Gymnastics Australia unreservedly apologises to all athletes and family members who have experienced any form of abuse participating in the sport," the statement said.
The organisation said it would adopt all 12 recommendations contained in the report. The Board of Gymnastics Australia will oversee the response and The Gymnastics Australia Integrity Committee will provide oversight of the implementation of the recommendation, it said.
“We look forward to working with our state and territory associations, clubs and athlete community and also Sport Integrity Australia as part of this process," the statement added.
“While important work has been undertaken in recent years to improve policies, education and support mechanisms for our athletes and coaches across child safety and athlete wellbeing, there is clearly more to be done.”
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