Jennifer Pinches, 2012 Olympian, spearheads the actionPinches says authorities ‘prioritise podiums over people’British Gymnastics is facing an unprecedented group-claim lawsuit from 17 former gymnasts, who allege there was widespread physical and psychological abuse deployed by coaches on children as young as six as part of a “win at all costs” mentality in the sport.
On Wednesday the sport’s governing body received a letter before action detailing claims of young gymnasts – three of whom competed for Team GB - being punched, kicked, slapped or held by the ears by coaches as an “act of humiliation” when they did not perform moves correctly.