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read moreA lawyer representing a group of 40 past and present Australian gymnasts has warned that "a spectrum" of abuse allegations will emerge from an independent review into Gymnastics Australia to be conducted by the Human Rights Commission (HRC).
Gymnastics Australia engaged the HRC last month after the airing of Athlete A, an American documentary on widespread sexual abuse in the sport, saw dozens of Australian gymnasts take to social media with their own allegations of abuse.
Lawyer Adair Donaldson today told ABC’s The Ticket that the gymnasts he is representing want significant changes with the sport so that future gymnast next are not left with the same psychological burden as those who came before.
Donaldson told The Ticket “there has been a dreadful culture that has existed in Gymnastics Australia.
"What these incredible women are hoping to achieve is to bring about changes so that the future athletes are going to be safe and that they're going to be in a position where they don't have to experience the same trauma that the previous athletes have."
The Australian athletes' allegations that have appeared publicly are centred on physical, mental and emotional abuse, unlike the dominance of sexual abuse in the US.
However, Donaldson advised “but that's not to say that there aren't going to be disclosures in relation to sexual harassment, sexual assault and physical assaults.
"I think what you're going to see quite commonly is a spectrum of complaints which is going to come out as a result of the toxic culture of 'results at any cost' with almost no regard for the safety of these children.
"Some of the things I've looked at, I don't describe it as abuse, I describe it as child cruelty."
Donaldson referred to examples of "extreme and punishing training requirements" as well as "being banned from crying with the threat of losing scholarships" and "children fearing puberty because of the expectation of coaches".
He added "you would think that as grown adults, when these athletes look back on their time and what they achieved as a child, that they'd have great pride.
"But what we're finding is they're looking back and thinking, 'Gee, how did I survive that?'"
Gymnastics inquiries have also been established in countries such as the UK, Belgium and the Netherlands.
In 2019, the International Gymnastics Federation became so concerned about abuse allegations it allocated a 2 million Swiss franc (US$3 million) endowment to establish the independent Gymnastics Ethics Foundation.
Based in Switzerland, its Director Alex McLin says the organisation is not yet widely known but has already handled 50 cases.
McLin told The Ticket “what that's allowed us to determine is the issue of 'harsh coaching' is a cultural issue within the sport and it really is present on all five continents.
"There is a systemic issue that needs to be addressed within the sport regardless of 'where'."
Click here to read the original article on the ABC website.
20th August 2020 - Gymnastics Australia to call the Gold Coast home for the next four years
30th July 2020 - Independent cultural review of Gymnastics in Australia to commence
27th November 2019 - Geelong Arena to become Victoria’s home of gymnastics
7th November 2019 - Recreation textiles distributor advises of importance of right fabric choices for gymnastic, trampoline and play facilities
6th August 2019 - Gymnastics Australia releases new ‘Body Positive Guidelines’
3rd May 2019 - AusPlay survey shows gymnastics as the fastest growing sport in Victoria
28th March 2019 - Gymnastics Australia aims to set new standard in child safety
1st December 2018 - Parkour bodies resist International Gymnastics Federation’s attempts to ‘usurp’ the sport
9th October 2018 - Gymnastics Australia issues statement in response to reports on National Centre of Excellence
9th October 2018 - Report suggests cruel ‘punishments’ inflicted on child gymnasts at National Centre of Excellence
28th April 2018 - Gymnastics Australia introduces new child safety measures
21st November 2017 - Gymnastics Victoria receives Australian Sports Commission Play By the Rules Award
8th November 2017 - Record-breaking year for gymnastics in Australia
20th October 2017 - Gymnastics Australia appoints Kitty Chiller as new Chief Executive
10th September 2017 - Record growth in Gymnastics participation in Victoria
12th April 2016 - Tennis NSW disregarded welfare of abused youth player
5th April 2016 - Royal Commission told that cricket coach abused boys for years
1st August 2018 - Sports Commission to rebrand as Sport Australia
8th July 2014 - Child sexual abuse Royal Commission shifts inquiry to swimming coaches
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