Category: safety

protecting gymnasts from predators

Protecting Gymnasts From Predators – Part 1

Protecting Gymnasts From Predators – Part 2

Darkness to Light has a great educational resource called “The 5 Steps to Protecting Our Children”;

Step 1: Learn The Facts: Realities, Not Trust, Should Influence Your Decisions Regarding Children

Step 2: Minimize Opportunity: If you eliminate or reduce isolated, one-on-one situations between children and adults, and children and other youth, you’ll dramatically reduce the risk of sexual abuse.

Step 3: Talk About It: Children often keep abuse a secret, but barriers can be broken down by (parents) talking openly about our bodies, sex, and boundaries.

Step 4: Recognize The Signs: Don’t expect obvious signs when a child is being sexually abused. Signs are often there, but you have to know what to look for.

Step 5: React Responsibly: DISCLOSURE of sexual abuse means a child has chosen you as the person he or she trusts enough to tell. It is the moment when children learn whether others can be trusted to stand up for them.

Protecting Gymnasts From Predators – Part 3

One more point. Clubs should not discourage parents from watching practice. The more transparency the better.

Our competitive gymnasts are amongst the best protected children. But we could do even better.

On a related topic Nicole Bard has advice for parents in a post titled …

What To Look For In A Good Gym: Abuse Series Part 1

1. Open Floor Plan
2. Cameras
3. Proper Conduct Training and Policies

Stacey Ervin on handling grief & depression

“You don’t have to be sick in order to get better.”

That’s the message that Stacey Ervin, former University of Michigan gymnast, is sending to student athletes. It’s a mantra that helped him to become an All-American and National Champion, all while dealing with the death of his mother and the other demands associated with being a Division I student athlete.

He is sharing his story in the latest video in the Athletes Connected series with the hope that it will help at least one other person who has dealt with a personal struggle, overcome their trials and reach their goals.

Compared to their collegiate peers, student athletes are less likely to seek out mental health services due to a variety of factors, including performance pressures and a culture that promotes not being perceived as weak. Athletes Connected is working to change that. …

Former U-M Gymnast Encourages Fellow Athletes to Seek Help in New Athletes Connected Video

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

16 more women accuse Larry Nassar

… the women’s allegations of sexual abuse span nearly two decades — from 1996 through 2014. Their ages ranged from 13 to 20 when the alleged abuse began. Some continued to see Nassar for treatment for years. …

All five women interviewed by IndyStar said they wondered about the treatment they received from Nassar, but they initially deferred to his reputation and expertise in the field of sports medicine.

“He was like this hero in … sports medicine, especially for gymnastics, because the injuries and type of stress you’re putting on your body are so different than any other sport,” Katherine said. “A trainer and doctor for the U.S. Olympic team accessible in Michigan; it was like, everyone thought it was amazing.” …

Indy Star

The IndyStar USA Gymnastics investigation

Riley Beggin summarizes the story to date.

IndyStar filed records requests in 10 states and reviewed thousands of pages of documents over the course of four and a half months. Their reporting found that USAG, which is headquartered in Indianapolis, has private sexual misconduct files on 54 coaches spanning 10 years. But unless the allegations came to officials directly from the victim or the victim’s parent, the organization wouldn’t take any measures to intervene. …

Indiana law doesn’t require firsthand information to report suspected abuse. It only requires that the reporter has “reason to believe” abuse has occurred. Legal experts told IndyStar that it’s clear USA Gymnastics’ policy violates state law. …

Behind the Story

out-of-balance

former coach William ‘Bill’ McCabe

In 2007 Bill McCabe was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for sexual exploitation of children.

mccabe_mugshot

The Indianapolis Star posted a timeline of his troubled coaching career.

The question being asked of USA Gymnastics is why Bill McCabe wasn’t placed on the permanently ineligible list until December 2006?

(via otothebeirne)

Vanessa Atler on Larry Nassar

1) First I want everyone to know Larry has never done anything to me. I only really had problems with my ankle and he was always professional and i never had any bad experiences with him.

2) I will be choosing to support these women. …

read more on Facebook

Vanessa was a long time National Team member. (1995-2001)

Gymnastics club in Equador destroyed

The facility in Estadio Modelo Alberto Spencer was at least 70% destroyed by fire.

Seems a spark from a welder started the fire in a foam pit. 😦

No fire retardant in that foam, I’m assuming.

gym-fire

more accusations against Dr. Larry Nassar

Ingham County Prosecuting Attorney Gretchen Whitmer said a “handful” of people who say they were victims of a Michigan State University doctor have contacted her since an article was published Monday detailing the accounts of two women who allege the doctor sexually abused them.

“As soon as publicity was given to this, more people have reached out,” she said.

Michigan State University police also have received additional complaints …

Detroit Free Press

That article links to contact information for investigators.

gymnast Ananth Rao paralyzed

On October 12, 2010 Ananth Rao was competing in a State competition in India on Floor. He under rotated a 1 3/4 forward salto roll out. And will now spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair.

gymnast-india

‘Paralysed’ gymnast needs a long helping hand

In the draft version of the next Men’s Code of Points roll out skills on Floor are banned. They’ve been banned in the Women’s Code for decades after 1978 World Champion Elena Mukhina was paralyzed.

Congratulations FIG MTC for that decision. Our sport will have far fewer concussions and catastrophic injuries in future.

(via I Coach)

U.S. sexual misconduct complaints against coaches

A Georgia judge ruled on Monday that sexual abuse complaint files compiled by USA Gymnastics should be released to the public, offering a look into the Olympic organization’s policies for handling child abuse.

The ruling, by Judge Ronald K. Thompson in Effingham County State Court, was celebrated as a victory by some former gymnasts who were victims of sex abuse. USA Gymnastics opposed release of the documents.

USA Gymnastics said it plans to appeal the ruling …

The judge said he is concerned about protecting the privacy of innocent parties, including victims and their families. Their names and medical records will be redacted. The names of coaches who have not been convicted of a crime also will be redacted. Thompson said the court will redact the files and open them to the public by Sept. 30.

Georgia judge to unseal USA Gymnastics sex abuse records

If you want more on that story listen to GymCastic episode 220. Jessica O’Beirne has been following the issue closely.