Gymnastics coach Nico Zijp of the Bossche gymnastics club Flik-Flak has been acquitted of transgressive behavior by the appeals committee of the Institute for Sports Law (ISR). Wendy Vos, director of Flik-Flak, confirmed this.
Zijp was one of the gymnastics coaches whom the prosecutor of the ISR was investigating after complaints about mental and physical abuse of gymnasts.
He was, among other things, the supervisor of Tisha Volleman, one of the gymnasts who regularly participated in European and World Championships in recent years. A week and a half ago she won gold and bronze at World Cup competitions in Cottbus, Germany.
Year suspended
Zijp was suspended (conditionally) for a year in July 2021, but appealed. “It is true that Nico has now been fully acquitted,” Vos reports. “During the period when we had to wait for an answer from the ISR, Nico was only allowed to be active in the club as a coach. According to the statutes of the KNGU, he can now also be active again as an accompanying coach at competitions, which are under the responsibility of the fall bond.”
The trainer had never been associated with possible physical abuses in gymnastics. “I have always kept myself far from that,” he previously told Omroep Brabant.
‘I’m not going to be the victim’
Zijp was especially disappointed for his athletes. “It’s not about my own honour, I’m not going to be the victim. I am here for my athletes. And unfortunately they are also the victims.”
ALSO READ:
Gymnastics coach Nico Zijp disappointed in gymnastics association: ‘I want to continue with my athletes’
Gymnastics coach Nico Zijp can get back to work with his athletes, investigation against him continues