Dear Jane, I understand that you are coming under considerable pressure concerning your role in the current crisis embroiling British Gymnastics. I would like to take this opportunity to explore the reasons for that.
Former students of Heathrow Gymnastics raise abuse concerns
Last week, as allegations began to emerge of a toxic culture of abuse within gymnastics, Heathrow found themselves described rather differently: as a club that operated under a culture of fear and silence, where emotional and physical abuse was directed at children. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/past-six-days/2020-07-12/sport/former-students-of-heathrow-gymnastics-raise-abuse-concerns-vzn9zrmk6
Gymnastics abuse scandal: ‘I’d give back all my medals just to be happy’
British gymnasts doubt whether national governing body is serious about stamping out alleged culture of abuse https://www.telegraph.co.uk/gymnastics/2020/07/12/gymnastics-abuse-scandal-give-back-medals-just-happy/
‘I was screaming and begging him to stop’: Former gymnast recalls training horror which ended Olympic dream
Video report by ITV News Correspondent John Ray A former gymnast has claimed a coach verbally abused her after she had snapped her foot in training, suffered taunts about her weight and was forced to wrap herself in clingfilm. https://www.itv.com/news/2020-07-11/i-was-screaming-and-begging-him-to-stop-former-gymnast-recalls-training-horror-which-ended-olympic-dream
Bullying, Humiliation and Abuse: A Gymnast’s Story
“Writing down some of my story feels like a weight has been lifted, I had no idea. The gymnastics community truly is supportive and I myself can’t thank you enough.
Team GB gymnasts Becky and Ellie Downie describe ‘environment of fear’ in the sport
Becky and Ellie Downie: “For too long, the health and well-being of young girls has been of secondary importance to a dated, cruel, and – we’d argue – often ineffective culture within women’s gymnastics training.” https://www.skysports.com/more-sports/olympics/news/29876/12025235/team-gb-gymnasts-becky-and-ellie-downie-describe-environment-of-fear-in-the-sport
I work to protect elite athletes – these growing allegations must be properly investigated
I work to protect elite athletes – these growing allegations must be properly investigated Victoria Aggar Talk of ‘independent’ reviews makes me sceptical – athletes need a separate complaints organisation they can trust https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/jul/10/elite-athletes-unfair-treatment
Calls for resignations at top of British Gymnastics as abuse allegations mount
Video report by ITV News Correspondent Lucy Watson The head of British Gymnastics is under growing pressure to resign following a string of bullying, and physical and emotional abuse allegations in the sport. https://www.itv.com/news/2020-07-09/calls-for-resignations-at-top-of-british-gymnastics-as-abuse-allegations-mount
British Gymnastics CEO ‘appalled and ashamed’ by allegations of abusive coaches
Video report by ITV News Correspondent Ben Chapman The CEO of British Gymnastics said she is “appalled and ashamed” by allegations of abusive coaches reported by ITV News. https://www.itv.com/news/2020-07-10/british-gymnastics-ceo-appalled-and-ashamed-by-allegations-of-abusive-coaches
British Gymnastics head ‘appalled and ashamed’ at multiple abuse stories
Organisation holds crisis talks amid damning revelations Growing number of gymnasts call on Jane Allen to resign https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/jul/10/british-gymnastics-head-appalled-and-ashamed-at-multiple-abuse-stories
Cartoon Network pulls out of British Gymnastics partnership after allegations revealed by ITV News
ITV News can exclusively reveal that Cartoon Network has become the first financial partner to publicly suspend its partnership with British Gymnastics after allegations of abusive coaches were exposed. https://www.itv.com/news/2020-07-09/exclusive-cartoon-network-pulls-out-of-british-gymnastics-partnership-after-allegations-revealed-by-itv-news
Becky and Ellie Downie say abuse in GB gymnastics ‘completely normalised’
Ellie Downie would not eat or drink on day before weigh-in‘Focus about my weight will leave scars which will never heal’ https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/jul/09/becky-and-ellie-downie-say-abuse-in-british-gymnastics-completely-normalised
British Gymnastics chief facing growing pressure to resign over abuse scandal
Jane Allen bears ultimate responsibility, alleged victims and parents say, with her organisation also accused of covering up ‘slapping’ https://www.telegraph.co.uk/gymnastics/2020/07/08/british-gymnastics-chief-facing-growing-pressure-resign-abuse/
Former gymnasts reveal shocking extent of abuse inflicted on them by coaches
Lucy Mein tells Telegraph Sport of regular verbal abuse as well as a ‘bullying culture’ which made her feel ‘worthless’ https://www.telegraph.co.uk/womens-sport/2020/07/08/former-gymnasts-reveal-shocking-extent-abuse-inflicted-coaches/?fbclid=IwAR2Gl8H7tc086nmw2X11NyMJwOlQi8DqU4vR_z7Ci9PUJ-2Snhlu9j-2pnU
Olympian Louis Smith condemns ‘culture of fear’ in British Gymnastics following abuse allegations
Video report by ITV News Sports Editor Steve Scott Former Olympic gymnast Louis Smith has spoken out about a “culture of fear” within British Gymnastics amid a storm of abuse allegations in the sport. https://www.itv.com/news/2020-07-08/olympian-louis-smith-condemns-culture-of-fear-in-british-gymnastics-following-abuse-allegations
British Gymnastics crisis deepens with call for chief executive to quit
Lisa Mason says CEO Jane Allen should take responsibilityLouis Smith accuses governing body of ‘scared to taint its image’ https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/jul/08/british-gymnastics-crisis-deepens-with-call-for-chief-executive-to-quit
British Gymnastics admits ‘error’ for not telling girl’s parents about abuse claims
Catherine Lyons, who is now retired from the sport, claims she was beaten with a stick on one occasion. https://news.sky.com/story/british-gymnastics-admits-error-for-not-telling-girls-parents-about-abuse-claims-12023055
British Gymnastics to investigate alleged abuse of elite athletes
Independent inquiry to examine ‘shocking’ claims of physical and emotional abuse https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/jul/07/uk-sport-to-investigate-shocking-and-upsetting-claims-of-gymnastics-abuse
‘I was terrified to put on weight’ – the ‘culture of fear’ in British gymnastics
Nicole Pavier says an eating disorder still “plagues” her life. A former England gymnast, she says she was weighed every day during her career. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/gymnastics/53290256
‘Beaten and starved’: Stars allege abuse at heart of British Gymnastics
Catherine Lyons is 19 years old now and is recalling her stunning gymnastics career. But she’s not smiling, that’s because, despite being a world class athlete; a junior European and British champion, the memories hurt deeply. https://www.itv.com/news/2020-07-06/beaten-and-starved-stars-allege-abuse-at-heart-of-british-gymnastics
Girl, 8, describes bullying by gymnastics coaches as review is pledged
Video report by ITV News Sports Editor Steve Scott ITV News has uncovered further allegations of bullying, and physical and emotional abuse within gymnastics. https://www.itv.com/news/2020-07-07/girl-8-describes-bullying-by-gymnastics-coaches-as-review-is-pledged
Athlete A review – the scandal that rocked the sporting world
The shocking story of how USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar abused the girls and young women in his care is explored in Netflix’s grim new documentary https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2020/jun/24/athlete-a-review-the-scandal-that-rocked-the-sporting-world
USA Gymnastics suspends ex-Olympic coach Maggie Haney for eight years
Coach faces ban for verbally and emotionally abusing gymnastsHaney was coach of Rio 2016 gold medalist Laurie Hernandez https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/apr/30/usa-gymnastics-maggie-haney
Victims demand USA Gymnastics acknowledge a woman’s worth
Settlement proposal following Larry Nasser’s sexual abuse has caused outrage among gymnasts and their families https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/mar/09/usa-gymnastics-larry-nassar-scandal
Neil Griffiths still involved at Heathrow
Griffiths: No, I’m not. I’m still not coaching at Heathrow, but I’m giving my brother Andrew and Alex Uttley, the coaches at the club, my full support. I regularly meet with them to talk and discuss what they need to do, and how to do it. More a mentor role of passing on my experience…
British Gymnastics accused of favouritism and weight-loss demands
• Charlie Fellows omitted from England squad despite successes• Governing body denies claims over selection and weight focus https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2018/apr/05/british-gymnastics-charlie-fellows
Gymnastics crisis shows again why athletes need a union fighting their corner
An independent union wouldn’t only combat well-publicised issues in British sport – it would also give athletes a voice and ensure greater transparency https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2017/nov/13/uk-sport-olympics-funding-british-athletes-commission
MPs to question sports minister Tracey Crouch on British Gymnastics crisis
• Crouch to appear before digital, culture, media and sport select committee• Entire GB men’s artistic team are in contract dispute with British Gymnastics https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/nov/13/mps-sports-minister-tracey-crouch-british-gymnastics-crisis
Gymnastics in crisis as Max Whitlock and others refuse to sign contracts
• Rebellion by leading athletes threatens future funding• British Gymnastics accused of creating a culture of fear https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/nov/12/british-gymnastics-crisis-max-whitlock-refuse-to-sign-contract
British Gymnastics failed to suspend coach for ‘emotional and physical abuse’
• ‘Remedial action was recommended and undertaken’• Alleged incidents took place between 2009 and 2016 British Gymnastics has confirmed that it did not suspend a coach who was reported to its welfare team for alleged emotional and physical abuse in 2012 after the Guardian revealed the same coach had been interviewed by police on suspicion…
British Gymnastics coach under investigation over athlete abuse claims
Verbal and physical abuse alleged to have started in 2012 Parents alerted governing body after concerns were raised https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/jul/12/british-gymnastics-coach-under-investigation-over-abuse-claims
Emotional Abuse in Sport: A Case Study of Trichotillomania in a Prepubescent Female Gymnast
https://www.hilarispublisher.com/open-access/emotional-abuse-in-sport-a-case-study-of-trichotillomania-in-a-prepubescent-female-gymnast-2165-7920.1000264.pdf