After allegations of abuse
Two gymnastics trainers in Stuttgart temporarily released
January 3, 2025 – 11:14 a.mReading time: 2 minutes
The allegations of abuse by former gymnasts are causing the first personnel consequences at the federal base in Stuttgart. A commission should help to further process the events.
After the serious allegations from former gymnasts about grievances at the federal base in Stuttgart, there are the first personnel consequences. Two trainers were temporarily released until January 19th, as the “Stuttgarter Zeitung” and “Stuttgarter Nachrichten” reported.
When asked by the German Press Agency, the Swabian Gymnastics Association (STB) said that it could not comment on the incidents for legal reasons.
Both the STB and the German Gymnastics Federation (DTB) have announced that they will thoroughly examine the allegations. To this end, a commission will be set up that will listen to everyone involved – gymnasts, parents, coaches and those responsible.
Despite the ongoing investigations, training operations at the Stuttgart Artistic Gymnastics Forum resumed on Thursday. From January 7th, national coach Gerben Wiersma and junior national coach Claudia Schunk will be on site.
The criticism was largely made public by the former gymnasts Tabea Alt and Michelle Timm. She and other athletes denounced intolerable conditions at the federal base, where systematic physical and mental abuse is said to have occurred.
Active gymnasts also spoke up. Lara Hinsberger wrote on Instagram: “In Stuttgart I was treated like an object. I was used until I was so physically and mentally broken that I lost all value to the coaches (and at some point also to myself).” Since then she has been undergoing psychotherapeutic treatment.
The German record champion Elisabeth Seitz called for a comprehensive investigation into the allegations of abuse.
The DTB had already announced investigations and taken immediate measures before Hinsberger’s public statement. According to their own statements, the associations have concrete information about misconduct on the part of responsible trainers at the federal base. The results of the ongoing workup remain to be seen.