Canada gymnasts seek investigation into ‘toxic culture, abusive practices’
- More than 70 current, former Olympic and national gymnasts call for independent investigation in hope of ‘forcing change’
- They want Sport Canada to ensure next generation of gymnasts ‘is not subject to same physical and psychological trauma’
A group of more than 70 current and former Canadian gymnasts have called for an independent investigation into what they described as a “toxic culture and abusive practices” within their sport in the country.
The gymnasts, who are and have been members of the Olympic and national team, said in a letter sent on Monday to Sport Canada’s director general Vicki Walker that for nearly a decade the fear of retribution prevented them from speaking out.
“We can no longer sit in silence,” the letter said. “We are coming forward with our experiences of abuse, neglect, and discrimination in hopes of forcing change.
02:51
Female athletes push for more inclusive and less sexualised uniforms
According to the letter, there have been multiple complaints and arrests for various forms of emotional, physical, and sexual abuse and that the subject of the complaints have been Canadian coaches, many of whom the athletes were exposed to as minors.
“We know that there are many more examples of harm that have not yet come to light, and we know that abusive behaviours continue in gyms across this country today,” the letter said.
