Category: parents

new Gymnastics Canada complaints program

I just sent in my consent form to participate in Gymnastics Canada’s new system for lodging complaints.

The goal is to make the process more independent. Hopefully better — though there are always unintended consequences of any change.

As of December 19, 2022, Gymnastics Canada is a Program Signatory of the Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner (OSIC).

This means that, from the date, any allegation of maltreatment or other prohibited behavior, as defined in the Universal Code of Conduct to Prevent and Address Maltreatment in Sport (UCCMS), against a UCCMS participant of Gymnastics Canada must be filed directly with the OSIC. …

To validate whether a complaint may be admissible to this service, or for assistance in filing a complaint, anyone can contact the Canadian Sport Helpline at 1 888 837-7678 or by email at info(a)abuse-free-sport.ca

Canadians should check their email to see if they have been asked to fill out this form as the deadline is December 19, 2022.

Anyone choosing not to sign on might have to terminate their affiliation with Gymnastics Canada.

reporting abuse while protecting privacy

One of the MANY problems parents have with reporting suspected abuse is protecting the privacy of their children.

It’s more common than not that they decide to stay quiet, rather than risk later consequences for their child.

ProPublica is one of the best news organizations in the world.

Abigail Kramer from that site reflects on her experience:

The Balancing Act of Reporting on Vulnerable Kids While Protecting Their Privacy

Broken: Inside the Toxic Culture of Canadian Gymnastics

Returning to Canada from Europe, I was finally able to watch the full documentary on Crave TV, a Canadian subscription service.

And it was even more damning that I expected from seeing the trailer.

The documentary is well produced. Shared the experience of a number of gymnast victims from a number of different clubs. We should consider this a small sample, not any kind of comprehensive review of all Canadian clubs.

My first takeaway is to admire the courage of the gymnasts, their parents and one coach willing to tell their stories to try to improve things for kids in the future.

Next, was to get more insight into just how difficult it was for families to lodge a complaint about a coach with Club, Provincial Federation and Gymnastics Canada.

Certainly document anything you see right from the beginning. Email or letter. Months or years later you may need to present specific incidents, times and dates.

If a coach or anyone else breaks the law, call the police. Simple.

The dilemma for a family is when misbehaviour at Gymnastics falls short of a crime: bullying, psychological abuse, emotional abuse, etc.

None of the coaches called out in this documentary were willing to be interviewed. Included were:

  • Vladimir and Svetlana Lashin, Omega Gymnastics, B.C. — neither are currently on the GymCan Suspended/Expelled Members list. But neither are coaching in Canada, I believe. And Omega shut down during the pandemic.
  • Dave Brubaker, Bluewater Gymnastics, Ontario. Former WAG National Coach. Expelled from GymCan membership. His wife, coach Liz Brubaker, is currently suspended.
  • Jamie Atkin, Airdrie Edge Gymnastics, Alberta. Jamie was under some sanctions from the Provincial Federation at one point, but is currently coaching and managing the club.
  • Rima Nikishin, Calgary Gymnastics Centre, Alberta. Indefinite suspension.

Have things changed for the better in Canada? Or is the system still protecting abusers?

The McLaren Global Sport Solutions Report should arrive January 2023 — a review of Ethics, Safety & Culture. 

Critics are suspicious that McLaren might not be critical nor strong enough as it was commissioned by Gymnastics Canada. Having been interviewed myself, I’m optimistic that it will deliver a good list of recommendations.

We were hoping that Sports Canada would additionally launch a multi-sport investigation into Ethics and Safety. It seemed the Prime Minister and Minister of Sport were onboard for that — but it hasn’t happened yet.

I do recommend you watch the 90 minute documentary for yourself. If you can find a way to do so.

No Canadian Inquiry into Abuse in Sport

I’m surprised.

Minister of Sport Pascale St-Onge seemed to welcome groups representing Hockey, Gymnastics and others. Yet an investigation was not approved.

24 November: Yesterday, a motion was tabled in the Canadian House of Commons to initiate a national inquiry into abuse in sport. We, representatives of Global Athlete and Gymnasts For Change Canada, were in the gallery as this motion was presented. To witness it fail was devastating.

We are deeply disappointed to see politics impacting an issue that should be entirely non-partisan. Child and athlete abuse is not political and every day that federal leaders fail to act is a day that another athlete is at risk of abuse.

We call on our Canadian political leaders to show a unified front in eradicating abuse from sport and to initiate an independent third-party judicial inquiry to deliver the safety, justice, and accountability that every Canadian athlete, child and survivor deserves.

Global Athlete

WHY gymnasts stayed in the sport

Andrew Vetter on Early Specialization Sport

A former gymnast, circus performer, former Gymnastics coach, today Andrew runs a business consulting strength and conditioning for athletes (mostly gymnasts).

He has some radical ideas:

  • Zero competitions until 10+ years of age.
  •  FUNdations. Training with the goals of physical & motor development, but where Gymnastics routines are not the main goal.
  • Prioritize the “extras” (e.g. nutrition, hydration, rest, academics, and mental performance, …)
  • Have fun and enjoy the process over the progress

Read part 1 of his post on Medium:

Gymnastics: My Thoughts on an Athletic Hybrid Model to an Early Specialization Sport

GymCan Culture Report expected JAN 2023

Gymnastics Canada brought in McLaren Global Sport Solutions to review Ethics, Safety & Culture.

Richard McLaren, who led investigations into Russian doping and corruption in the International Weightlifting Federation, is well respected in the field.

I first filled out McLaren’s online survey. Better than most of those fill-in-the-blank forms.

At the end of that survey, I was asked if I would be available for an in-person online interview. Of course I was keen to do so — and that happened NOV 8th.

About 90 minutes long, I felt McLaren was very open to hearing everything I had to say regarding culture. We spent most of the time talking recommendations for the future.

For example, I was asked what 3 changes I’d make first IF I was suddenly in charge of Gymnastics Canada.

I did call McLaren out on independence and transparency. And left convinced GymCan will have no influence on their findings.

McLaren Global Sport Solutions and those within it are completely independent of Gymnastics Canada, its sponsors, and other stakeholders.

MGSS has been contracted by Gymnastics Canada to independently, and without any interference or dictates from the sport, develop a Roadmap to a Culture Review and a Safe Sport Policy Review.

Roadmap to a Culture Review & Safe Sport Policy Review terms of reference

For example, the McLaren Report of Canada Soccer published July 2022 was scathing.

I told my interviewers they should do exactly the same with Gymnastics if that’s what the investigation finds.

I’d recommend spokespeople from Gymnasts for Change Canada have interviews with McLaren. They will listen.

The documentary BROKEN – The Toxic Culture of Canadian Gymnastics was released this week.

Canadian victims can contact Gymnasts for Change:

gymnasts4change_canada@outlook.com

Safe Sport Symposium, Liverpool

More than 200 participants from over 50 different countries attended a 2-day conference jointly hosted by British Gymnastics and FIG with the support of UK Sport and the Local Organising Committee.

In his closing address, Morinari Watanabe, FIG President, presented his policy of inverting the traditional model of governance at an international sports federation and placing the athlete at the top.

Every block in the inverted pyramid, from coaches, judges, national federations and continental unions right down to the President, should work to support the athlete.” 

For example, I would have appreciated one of the USA MAG stopping to address the media in the mixed zone after Team Final. Perhaps Asher.

But respect their right not do do so. Athlete first.

improving ETHICS / SAFETY

Interesting observation from a top sports journalist.

The top 3 teams at Worlds have all been having a reckoning of how to improve ETHICS / SAFETY — especially because female gymnasts are so young, and the training so intense.

Gymnastics is absolutely the best sport for kids IMHO. But there have been terrible abuses, especially at the highest levels of WAG.

British Gymnastics Reform ’25

CEO announces the launch.