British Olympians Becky and Ellie Downie say they've suffered from abusive behaviour in gymnastics coaching for a few years, including their voices to a rising variety of gymnasts coming ahead with related complaints.
The sisters mentioned coaches pressured them to reduce weight and overtrain, which took psychological and bodily tolls. They had been impressed to inform their story after former teammates did the identical.
"Talking out is one thing we have each felt we actually wanted to do for a very long time now, however in reality, we have been afraid to take action," they wrote in a letter posted Thursday on their respective Twitter accounts.
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—@Bdownie
Each girls represented Britain within the 2016 Olympic Video games however their success has come at a excessive worth, they mentioned, describing the normalization of abusive behaviour.
Twenty-eight-year-old Becky mentioned she was known as "mentally weak" for questioning her coaching routine in 2018. She then injured her ankle in "a direct consequence of the unsafe coaching." Her 20-year-old sister mentioned a nutritionist required her to ship every day photos of herself carrying simply underwear to show she wasn't gaining weight. She was 14 years previous at the moment.
"This endless concentrate on my weight has left deep scars which can by no means be healed, I believe," Ellie wrote.
Whereas travelling overseas with the nationwide group, they lived in worry of coaches looking their baggage for meals.
"To today we nonetheless conceal meals for the worry of it being discovered," Ellie wrote.
'Tradition of worry' promotes silence
British Gymnastics CEO Jane Allen this week introduced an impartial evaluation of claims of mistreatment. She mentioned the British Gymnastics Integrity Unit already exists to analyze allegations and that there are welfare officers across the nation.
"Nevertheless, it's clear that gymnasts didn't really feel they might elevate their issues to British Gymnastics and it's important that an impartial evaluation helps us higher perceive why, so we are able to take away any limitations as shortly as attainable," Allen mentioned.
"There's nothing extra vital for British Gymnastics than the welfare of our gymnasts at each stage of our sport and we'll regularly try to create a tradition the place folks really feel they'll elevate any issues that they could have," she added.
Nevertheless, three-time Olympian Louis Smith mentioned British Gymnastics should do a greater job of encouraging athletes to lift issues with out worry of repercussions. The 31-year-old Smith, who has received 4 Olympic medals, mentioned there is a "tradition of worry" that stops gymnasts from talking out.
"I owe it to the folks which might be wanting to come back out however are too nervous, maybe this would possibly assist," Smith mentioned in a video posted on his Instagram account.
'It is a gymnastics tradition drawback'
Becky Downie, who additionally competed within the 2008 Olympic Video games, mentioned situations have improved since her 2018 damage.
"We're additionally now not routinely weighed and are inspired to eat correctly to help our efficiency and restoration," she wrote. "This tradition change has inspired us to proceed utilizing our voice as a software for good, as we have seen the optimistic results of doing so."
The sisters mentioned it is not only a British drawback.
"And what's clear from talking to many alternative gymnasts from all around the world, it is a gymnastics tradition drawback, versus only a nationwide one," they wrote.
In america, girls got here ahead in opposition to Larry Nassar, the osteopathic doctor who in his 29 years because the USA Gymnastics girls's group's physician used medical remedy as a guise for molesting lots of of younger athletes. He was sentenced to 40 to 125 years in jail in 2018
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