tumbling, tramp, diving, acrobatics, circus, cheer, dance, martial arts, X sports … and more
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:
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:
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.
Personally, I can’t see any way to fairly allow some athletes who represent Russia to compete in Paris 2024, while disallowing others.
For example, Nikita Nagornyy could SAY he does not support Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. Compete Paris. Then return to Russia to continue his work for Putin, laughing at IOC president Thomas Bach.
That would be worst case scenario. The IOC would be humiliated.
The IOC should give Putin a deadline to withdraw from Ukraine, or have his nation and Belarus officially banned.
Russian athletes who do not endorse their country’s war in Ukraine could be accepted back into international sports, competing under a neutral flag, IOC president Thomas Bach said in an interview published Friday. …
IOC looks for ways Russian athletes ‘who do not support war’ could compete as neutrals
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
These are two in a series by the street artist Banksy.
Some interpret them as showing the destroyed dreams of young people being bombed by Putin.
Having been to Riyadh a number of times myself, I have doubts.
Women’s sports are not respected in the Kingdom in 2022 — why should we believe they will be welcomed and treated fairly in 2034?
Federations — including Gymnastics — should be up front right now on what’s required in order to participate.
On the other hand, they have the money to lose on this event. And that women’s soccer final stadium looks awesome. 😀
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
The reward for attempting Amanar is not enough to risk falling and/or injury.
BUT it’s a good idea to train more twists than you intend to compete on to hard mats.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Super smart and eloquent former CAN elite and Utah star Sydney Soloski was interviewed on HOW her retirement is going.
Good and bad.
Sports Canada actually has a program called MyGamePlan.ca which offers transition resources for athletes.
I’m not sure Sydney is eligible as she’s been off the CAN National Team for years now.
6-time Olympic medalist, Max Whitlock, has decided to resume training. He felt unsettled outside the Gym. It ain’t easy to retire.
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:
Read part 1 of his post on Medium:
Gymnastics Coaching.com 