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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.
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.