Category: ethics

Defying Gravity – part 5

This is the criminal doctor episode.

Kathy Johnson is always good. But it’s Dominique who’s most eloquent of many gymnasts interviewed.

Jordyn Wieber too. She recalls that the Ranch was closed the day after Simone said she didn’t want to go back to the place of all that sexual abuse.

Olga Korbut calls her former coach a monster.

In part five of our documentary series, survivors of abuse describe the culture that allowed a USA Gymnastics physician and many dozens of other coaches and officials to take advantage of athletes, and explain how they’re using their voices and the life skills that gymnastics taught them to reclaim their sport.

You MIGHT be able to watch Defying Gravity free weekly with ads — or watch all episodes uninterrupted with YouTube Premium.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Who saw the LOW Vault Horse at Sydney 2000?

In my mind, the Vault judges were most responsible for not checking their apparatus was set correctly.

Still, it was surprising that no coach or gymnasts figured it out sooner.

Australian champion Allana Slater hadn’t seen the falls when she began the rotation but immediately sensed something was wrong.

“Does the vault look low to you?” she said to those around her. …

‘Does the vault look low to you?’: The Aussie teen who spotted Sydney’s stunning gymnastics fail

Allana Slater 2000

Defying Gravity – part 4/6

You need YouTube Premium to watch the episodes 3-6.

My favourite episode of the first four.

I love seeing Grace and Jade in the Gym. Best interviews I’ve seen, so far.

Vault is the featured apparatus. They did not hold back on the terrible truth that competition landings on this event are very, very dangerous. Ellie Black and others were interviewed on injuries.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

I don’t understand why FIG has never tried to improve vault landing mats.

Alecia Ingram #GymnastAlliance

Alecia Ingram was a 4 year National Team member. (1995-96, 1996-97, 1997-98, 1998-99)

At various times she trained at Cypress under Deana Parish and Debbie Kaitschuck, at Dynamo, at Cincinnati Gymnastics Academy, with Don Peters at SCATS, and at Parkettes.

In College she competed for Nebraska and University of Florida, finishing in the autumn of 2003.

Alecia recounts a LOT of bad experiences in this sad, sad post.

 

Gymnastics Canada Values Based Coaching

Suzanne Fisher, formerly of Gymnastics Canada, worked with an organization called True Sport to develop a free online module for coaching ethics.

It looks like a Powerpoint presentation where you must sometimes click to move forward.   There is some video.  A few slides where you must answer questions.

It takes less than 45 minutes to complete.

This is not a requirement of the National Coaching Certification Program in Canada, rather a supplementary module.  Canadian coaches who complete it can be credited 3 points towards professional development requirements.

Good and important content.

Go for It
Rise to the challenge – always strive for excellence. Discover how good you can be.

Play Fair
Play honestly – obey both the letter and spirit of the rules. Winning is only meaningful when competition is fair.

Respect Others
Show respect for everyone involved in creating your sporting experience, both on and off the field. Win with dignity and lose with grace.

Keep it Fun
Find the joy of sport. Keep a positive attitude both on and off the field.

Stay Healthy
Place physical and mental health above all other considerations – avoid unsafe activities. Respect your body and keep in shape.

Include Everyone
Share sport with others. Ensure everyone has a place to play.

Give Back
Find ways to show your appreciation for the community that supports your sport and helps make it possible.

Check it out here, if interested.

Gymnast Alliance #gymnastalliance

Dvora posted an article for Vice:

The Gymnast Alliance is forcing a reckoning with abusive practices that have long been at the center of the sport.

… hundreds of gymnasts from all over would post their personal stories of pain and abuse to social media using the hashtag.

They spoke of being forced to train and compete on serious injuries; of being publicly shamed for their weight; of being screamed at and belittled for making mistakes in practice.

Press attention would soon follow, with reports on ITV and other outlets. And the #gymnastalliance would soon spread to other countries, with gymnasts in Belgium, New Zealand, Australia, and the Netherlands speaking up about abuse at the highest level of sports there.

Hotlines have been set up; independent inquiries have been promised; coaches have been suspended. …

“We Won’t Stop”: Gymnasts Around the World Are Organizing To End Abuse

Downie sisters have spoken up about abuse.

Defying Gravity – part 2

Bars is the main theme of the second episode.

Beam will be featured in episode 3, but you need a YouTube Premium account to watch episodes 3-6.

In part 2 there’s a serious discussion of the psychological pressure on girls during puberty, as well.  Kyla Ross talks about the growth spurt she had after her first Olympics.

The great Vanessa Atler talks about the distress she felt when her coaches started weighing her daily.

Steve Rybacki certainly comes off a jerk.

I went back to listen again to Vanessa’s 2017 interview on GymCastic.  Vanessa has many good memories of her main coach, however.  She’s forgiven a lot of people from her past.

Cathy Rigby talks about eating disorders, as well.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

 

Wendy Hilliard Gymnastics Foundation 

Born out of her own experience, Ms. Hilliard founded the Wendy Hilliard Gymnastics Foundation (WHGF) in 1996.

WHGF provides free and low-cost Gymnastics to underserved communities in Harlem, and Detroit with the mission to empower the lives of urban youth by improving their physical and mental health through gymnastics.

To date, WHGF has made gymnastics accessible to over 20,000 urban youth in NYC. …

As they approach almost twenty-five years in Harlem and five years in Detroit, the foundation allows all kids from every background to pursue a sport that they love and empowers them to want to succeed. …

When asked what words of wisdom she has for those interested in the sport, Ms. Hilliard recommended, “Go for it! Gymnastics can do wonders to your physical and mental health, from flexibility and strength to focus and discipline. These are skills kids can utilize in all walks of life.” …

How One Woman Is Making Gymnastics Accessible To Black Youth

Blythe Lawrence on Aussie #AthleteAlliance

Rianna Mizzen talks about how being overworked in training contributed to her ACL tear.

“I have had some terrible experiences at major international competitions and national training camps between 2006-2012 that I wouldn’t wish on anyone,” two-time Olympian Georgia Bonora wrote on Instagram.

“There’s training hard and helping your athlete get the most out of themselves, but then there’s also a very fine line that can be crossed into abusive territory,” said Mary-Anne Monckton, a five-time Australian champion who won two silver medals at the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

“A lot of girls, some 20 years later, still didn’t realise that that was abuse. None of us recognised it because it wasn’t just happening to us. It was happening to everybody.”

On July 30 the Australian Human Rights Commission announced it would conduct an independent review, led by Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins, on gymnastics in Australia to better understand why alleged abuse went unreported.

Click through to read the well researched and detailed article in the Brisbane Times:

‘You can’t step out of line’: Medals come at a price for gymnasts

Nick Ruddock on on Athlete Alliance

Nick is eloquent in his summing up of the #AthleteAlliance revelations — gymnasts emboldened to come forward with some of their worst experiences in the sport.

How revealing past abuse can make things better for future generations.

Of course he looks at it from the coach perspective.