Arabic version: ناجون من الجمباز يشككون في وتيرة الإصلاح

According to The Guardian, the exposure of abuse by former USA Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar sparked a global reckoning, but survivors and advocates gathering in Rotterdam say progress in making the sport safer remains too slow.

Ten years after the Indianapolis Star published allegations against Nassar, hundreds of women had come forward with allegations and he was convicted and jailed. Judge Rosemarie Aquilina allowed victims to speak during his sentencing proceedings, where 169 people delivered statements across seven days. Aquilina sentenced Nassar to up to 175 years in jail; other federal and state convictions brought his total sentence to 300 years to life.

Olympic gymnasts Aly Raisman, Jordyn Wieber and Jamie Dantzscher were among those who spoke out, while Simone Biles disclosed that she was a victim and later testified before the US Senate Judiciary Committee. The documentary Athlete A, named after Maggie Nichols, was released two years after Nassar’s sentencing and highlighted a coaching culture described as one of compliance, fear and silence.

Kim Shore, an independent safe sport advocate and former Canadian gymnast, said the Nassar case helped her understand that mistreatment was “endemic.” Eloise Jotischky, who won the first civil case against British Gymnastics in 2022 over abuse she suffered, said the film helped survivors find language for their experiences. Claire Heafford, founder of Gymnasts for Change, said the documentary showed gymnastics as a coercively controlling environment built on control and power.

USA Gymnastics introduced changes after the case, including an Athlete Bill of Rights and safeguarding training for adult members. In Britain, Anne Whyte QC’s independent review found physical and emotional abuse were systemic, prompting British Gymnastics to launch a 40-point plan. Former Biles coach Aimee Boorman said her measure of success is “happy, healthy athletes” who have a positive experience in the sport.