Gymnastics abuse victims say WAIS still failing to take responsibility
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West Australian gymnasts who sounded the alarm over horrific abuse at the WA Institute of Sport say the organisation has failed to take responsibility, acknowledge its abusive practices and culture, and apologise to those who were in its care.
Gymnast Alliance Australia, made up of former WA gymnasts and fronted by Julia Murcia, welcomed the release on Monday of an Australian Human Rights Commission investigation into the sport and said members were saddened – but not surprised – by the findings of child abuse.
Executive summary
Gymnastics Australia engaged the Australian Human Rights Commission (the Commission) in August 2020 to conduct an independent review of culture and practice at all levels of the sport of gymnastics in Australia.
The Independent Review into Gymnastics in Australia (the Review) was requested by Gymnastics Australia following the release of the documentary ‘Athlete A’. The documentary sparked a global sharing of experiences of abuse in the sport, via social media, with several former athletes and parents of former athletes coming forward in Australia.
By engaging with members and former members across the gymnastics community in Australia, and undertaking a high-level evaluation of policy and procedures, the Review led to a comprehensive understanding of the culture of the sport, including systemic risk factors for child abuse and neglect, misconduct, bullying, abuse, sexual harassment and assault towards athletes. Some of these risk factors also exist in many o
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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.
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