Is scandal too harsh a word?
I don’t think so.
Many of the top female gymnasts have complained in the media about the Brazilian Gymnastics Federation. Most of the complaints have to do with medical mistreatment. Gymnasts being forced to train despite injury.
The Brazilian Gymnastics Federation’s physician, Dr. Mário Namba, refutes these charges.
Eliane Martins, the team coordinator, is taking a lot of heat, too. Here is her response to the scandal:
“It’s strange to see that a while ago, everyone thought the Federation was doing a great job. Now people are changing their minds, and all of a sudden we’re doing everything wrong. Interesting to note that these people never started complaining until now. Pure opportunism,” Eliane Martins told reporters.
The contract for Martins and her team expires in December. And they will not return.
Interestingly enough, it seems that no one is blaming Oleg Ostapenko, the Ukrainian coach who was in charge of the Brazilian women’s team from 2001 to August 2008, for the current crisis.
Ostapenko turned in the keys to his house and returned to the Ukraine after Beijing. But some in Brazil are hoping he will return.
read the latest episode in the sorry story on Triple Full – The Brazilian Scandal: Part 2
What a shame. Brazil had been one of the biggest success stories in our sport.
Gymnastics Coaching.com 