Aibu to no longer watch gymnastics after the abuse scandal

[ChocolateCookies123]

I really enjoy watching gymnastics but I feel a bit unethical watching the gymnastics at the olympics now after the abuse scandal. Feels like watching dancing bears now. Interested in other people’s views on it. Will you be watching? What do you think of the allegations?

For anyone who missed here’s a few articles. Alternatively a quick google of ‘gymnastics abuse’ will uncover reports from all around the world.

Australia www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/may/05/petri-dish-for-abuse-gymnastics-faces-a-reckoning-in-australia

UK : www.telegraph.co.uk/gymnastics/2021/03/09/british-gymnastics-abuse-allegations-shocking-numbers-reveal/

USA:
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/USA_Gymnastics_sex_abuse_scandal

Various countries: www.independent.co.uk/life-style/women/olympic-gymnasts-us-mental-physical-abuse-metoo-a9658051.html

A lot of sport is corrupt , so it doesn't surprise me :( heard a few tales on five live radio ( uk radio station ) about the bullying and the pressure they put these kids under. The ones who are ' rejected ' for not making it their entire life too.
I'm sure it rife in other sports too, not to mention the drug taking that goes on to enhance their performance.

I would say YABU on the basis that the athletes have worked for this, it's their big chance.
I'm the spirit of hate the game not the players.

The scandal while horrific is unsurprising, we know every opportunity for abuse will be taken. Imo we are at the stage where the assumption should be it is happening, in every field.

It also makes me feel uncomfortable after reading posts on MN about little girls about 8yo on the elite programme doing about 20-30 hours a week training just in case they might be a future Olympian, and missing out on childhood and most of them burning out well before any chance of being an Olympian

Elite sport on the whole makes me very uncomfortable for what it does to people. And that's before you add the specific abuse you talk about. I do watch it, but it's always there in the background.

@TheQueef yes I know what you mean. I want to support these young girls but also to take a stand against abuse. I can’t help think that if everyone refused to watch it would put pressure on the governing bodies to coach these children more ethically. I guess what other options do we have as spectators?

I will watch it yes - because I want to support the sports people regardless of the shit they’ve been through.

I strongly suspect this isn’t the only sport.

I know you have to train hard to ' be the best' but the abuse some of them get is just horrible.
The saddest cases I've heard of is in football where abuse was once rife. If the boys didn't do as the coaches wanted them to do , they were rejected straight away , told at nine you'll never make it. Grooming and all sorts was the norm from men only interested in the best looking boys who were kept quiet about what was really going on ( again spoken about on five live over the years)
I hope things will change , but I can imagine it still goes on :(

Most elite sports men and women often look a bit deranged to me; i think all that pressure they must put on themselves must take its toll on their mental health and well being and not helped by bullying narcissistic coaches even worse when it's little kids they are targeting too

@the80sweregreat I think it’s the young age that these gymnasts start being exposed to this type of coaching that I find particularly atrocious. From what you say it sounds like football starts pretty young too!

I’m surprised at how many people think it’s happening in other sports!. Makes me feel a bit sick as a parent.

The football stories on the radio were shocking.
A few people came forward after one coach was put in prison for grooming young boys and had been getting away with it for many years as the kids were too scared to say anything and they saw other friends being rejected from the clubs for not ' doing as they were told.
So sad and also sad for those coaches who are dedicated and not abusing their position of trust and are encouraging these youngsters.