Launch of Change the Routine: Report on the Independent Review into Gymnastics in Australia 2021

Australian Human Rights Commission

Independent Review into Gymnastics in Australia

Monday, 3 May 2021, 2pm



Kate Jenkins, Sex Discrimination Commissioner

Launch speech



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I acknowledge the traditional owners of this land, the Gadigal people of the Eora nation, and pay my respects to their elders past and present.

Feeling a combination of heartbreak and hope, I am here today to announce the release of the final report of the Australian Human Rights Commission’s Independent Review of Gymnastics in Australia.

Overview

Commissioned by Gymnastics Australia following the airing of the documentary ‘Athlete A’ and a public outpouring of experiences from current and former gymnasts and their families in Australia, this report comes at a time of global reckoning for the sport of gymnastics.

Indeed, the Review did hear about experiences of misconduct, bullying, abuse, harassment and assault amongst athletes and the profound short- and long-term impact these experiences have had.

It also found significant broader cultural challenges within the sport, cutting across coaching practices, the health, safety and wellbeing of gymnasts, complaint and investigation processes, and the governance of the sport.

But we also heard stories of hope for a better future and of people’s love for the sport.

It became clear that so many people are passionate about gymnastics and are committed to making it better for every person who takes part, be they an elite gymnast on the national squad, or a young person taking part at their local gymnastics club.

As a mother of a child who loves gymnastics - I too share this passion and commitment.

This report provides a pathway forward for gymnastics at all levels, be it national, state or club. We commend Gymnastics Australia for engaging the Commission to undertake this Review and for being willing to hear the hard truths. I urge all levels of the sport to work swiftly and collaboratively to implement the recommendations included in its pages to ensure the safety and wellbeing of every athlete.

Over the span of the Review, we heard from close to 200 members of the gymnastics community including current and former gymnasts, their families, coaches, judges and other staff in the sport.

On behalf of the Commission, I express my sincere thanks to all those who shared their experiences with us, particularly the children and young people and the current and former gymnasts who came forward.

It can be both confronting and daunting to re-live past experiences of trauma and we commend you for your bravery and determination in speaking up.

Your voices are at the centre of this report and its findings and recommendations.

I would also like to personally thank the talented team at the Commission and my colleague National Children’s Commissioner Anne Hollonds for their work in conducting the review and delivering this significant report. As for so many of our projects, I believe this report demonstrates the significant benefit to Australia of having an independent and trusted human rights commission, which can leverage its unique expertise for positive change across the community.

Systemic risk factors

Based on what we heard from members of the gymnastics community and our review of policies, procedures and practices across the sport, the Report identifies a number of systemic risk factors that cut across all levels of gymnastics in Australia and create an environment where athlete safety and wellbeing are not prioritised, and consequently where abuse and mistreatment can thrive.

Many of these risk factors also exist in other sports, including significant power disparities between athletes and coaches and administrators. The Commission will work with the Australian Sports Commission and Sport Integrity Australia to translate the lessons from this Review for the broader Australian sports sector.

The Review found that unique characteristics of gymnastics can also create unique risks for abuse, and for the maintenance and reinforcement of negative societal stereotypes and ideals around gender.

There are approximately 231,000 athletes engaged in gymnastics in Australia. Of these athletes, 77% are female and 91% are under the age of 12. The high proportion of extremely young female athletes in the sport was highlighted as one of the risks unique to gymnastics.

In addition, the Review identified:

• an overarching ‘win-at-all-costs’ approach to the sport where gymnasts and former gymnasts often felt that competitive success was put ahead of their safety and wellbeing;
• a tolerance for negative behaviour in the sport, where abusive and authoritarian coaching practices were justified as being ‘necessary’ for competitive success; and
• a culture of control, where young gymnasts, even at a recreational level, had significant expectations placed on them by coaches and administrators about their commitment to the sport.

Findings

In line with these identified risks, the Review makes five overarching findings:

1. That the persistent use of ‘authoritarian’ or overly disciplinary coaching styles and practices can create a risk of abuse and harm to athletes;
2. Across the sport there is insufficient understanding and prevention of the full range of behaviours that can constitute child abuse and neglect in gymnastics including verbal and emotional abuse, physical abuse and medical negligence;
3. That there has been a silencing of the athlete voice within the sport and that negative and abusive practices in the sport have caused significant short- and long-term impacts to gymnasts;
4. That there is an ongoing focus in gymnastics on the ‘ideal body’, especially for young female athletes, which, in addition to inappropriate and harmful weight management and body shaming practices, can result in the development of eating disorders and disordered eating; and
5. That gymnastics at all levels has not appropriately and adequately addressed complaints of abuse and harm and are not effectively safeguarding children and young people.

Recommendations

Gymnastics as a sport has a responsibility to put the wellbeing and safety of all athletes, particularly the girls and young women who make up the majority of participants, at the forefront of everything it does.

To address these findings, the Commission has made 12 recommendations for improved practice, policy and procedure throughout the sport, including through:

• skill development and mentoring for coaches on how to work appropriately, effectively and safely with children and young people and build relationships of mutual respect and trust;
• encouraging athlete empowerment and participation, including through youth athlete advisory councils and regular whole-of-sport surveys;
• enhancing skills on the prevention and recognition of eating disorders and disordered eating, and ensuring appropriate practices regarding body image and weight management; and,
• external investigation of all matters regarding child abuse and neglect, misconduct, bullying, sexual harassment and assault by adopting Sport Integrity Australia’s National Integrity Framework.

The Commission also recommends that Gymnastics Australia offer a formal apology on behalf of the sport to all gymnasts who have experienced any form of misconduct, bullying, sexual harassment or abuse in the sport.

The opportunity to change the routine

The implementation of the Commission’s recommendations requires engagement and action across all levels of the sport. Such action will be a step towards achieving transformative cultural change within gymnastics.

There is a spotlight on the human rights of athletes around the world and in Australia. Sporting organisations across different codes are increasingly recognising the key role they play in shaping our societies and culture—and in supporting the realisation of human rights for those taking part. The Commission does not accept that breaching fundamental human rights is necessary for success in sport, on the contrary, success is only possible where the human rights of athletes are respected and protected. This is as true for the sport being played in front of a crowd of thousands as it is for local and community sport, taking place in every community in this country.

This Review calls on all sports to consider their culture and practices, and positions Australia as a country that can lead the world in athletes’ rights and well-being.

This Review is an opportunity for gymnastics in Australia to lead the way on ensuring the rights of every athlete are respected and protected, from recreational participants to elite athletes.

As a sport where the participants are predominantly young girls and women, this is also an opportunity for gymnastics to play a societal role in driving gender equality, improving women’s participation in sport over their lifetime and challenging stereotypes of how young women and girls should behave and appear.

Gymnasts have always been strong, powerful and capable. It is time for gymnastics as a global sport to recognise and celebrate this fact.