In a further statement, the German Gymnastics Federation and the Swabian Gymnastics Federation regret the athletes’ experiences. At the same time, they emphasize that they have not been idle in the past.
In recent days, several gymnasts and former athletes have made serious allegations against the German Gymnastics Federation (DTB) and the Swabian Gymnastics Federation (STB) via their social media accounts. Tabea Alt for example, wrote in an Instagram post on December 28th: ”Eating disorders, punishment training, painkillers, threats and humiliation were the order of the day.”
In an initial statement last Saturday, the associations announced that they “take the public debate and allegations on the subject of mental health of competitive gymnasts very seriously. In this context, DTB and STB have concrete information about possible misconduct on the part of responsible trainers at the federal base Stuttgart.”
In another statement dated December 31st. DTB and STB said they were “affected by the numerous statements made by gymnasts”. At the same time, the associations emphasized that “all complaints and tips were taken seriously and investigated and this will continue to happen in the future. This applies to both the letter from Tabea Alt from 2021 and, for example, the report from Michelle Timm.”
The findings from Tabea Alt’s advertisement were incorporated into the “DTB cultural and structural process ‘Performance with Respect’ as well as into the concrete processing at the BSP Stuttgart. Numerous changes were the result. For example, “medical control and authority to give instructions was given to the trainers and coaches to a higher-ranking person”. Discussions regarding sports planning would be recorded and would only take place in private.
Self-critical Review of the measures taken
DTB and STB regret that the gymnasts sometimes perceive this completely differently. There have been numerous measures taken as a result of the allegations in the past. However, the current statements ensure that the associations have to examine the measures self-critically.
“Due to the latest reports and publications from gymnasts, the usefulness and success of the measures introduced so far must be fundamentally examined in a self-critical manner,” the statement says.
Associations announce reappraisal
As a result of the reports, numerous other people have now contacted the DTB to “explain their view of the competitive sports system, the federal bases and individual people”. DTB and STB expressly welcome this.
“We will start an appropriate review process in addition to the numerous measures we have taken so far,” the statement says. “Possible misconduct by individual trainers, but also errors in the competitive sports system at federal bases and in the DTB, as well as the handling of possible tips within the association structures of the STB and DTB should be checked.”
Broadcast on Monday, December 30, 2024, 7:30 p.m., SWR Aktuell Baden-Württemberg, SWR BW
