Gymnasts speak up in response to coaches' departures amid controversy - Athletes engage in a battle against gymnastics coaches following the exposure of a scandal
In the world of German gymnastics, a heated debate is unfolding. Two active athletes from TG Mannheim, Silja Stoehr and Janoah Muller, have made an appeal for the return of their temporarily suspended coaches, Claudia Schunk and Alina Korrmann.
While the investigations in Mannheim have not involved the current TG Mannheim training group's gymnasts, the suspension of the coaches has raised concerns among the athletes and their parents. The parents of the Mannheim squad athletes have expressed their support for the coaches in a jointly written letter.
The current TG squad athletes share positive experiences of care during injuries by Schunk and Korrmann. Muller, for her part, has contradicted the allegations that athletes were asked to train despite injuries in Mannheim. She has stated that she has not experienced any problematic situations or psychological abuse.
Meanwhile, in Stuttgart, numerous gymnasts have accused the work at the federal support point of severe misconduct since before Christmas. The public prosecutor's office is conducting investigations into multiple cases in Stuttgart, including coercion, dangerous bodily harm, and intentional bodily harm.
Manfred Zipper, a specialist lawyer for criminal law, represents the two coaches and states that the two cases in Stuttgart and Mannheim should not be mixed up. He emphasises that the investigations in Mannheim have not involved the current TG Mannheim training group's gymnasts.
The Mannheim parents criticise the slow processing of the allegations and the lack of involvement of active gymnasts and legal guardians in the clarification process. They believe that many problems lie not with individual persons, but with the system in high-performance sports.
It's part of high-performance sports for trainers to make demands to bring out the best in athletes, according to the active athletes of TG. However, the parents and athletes in Mannheim question the reasons for the drastic measure of suspending the coaches without a thorough investigation and without their involvement.
As for the coaches themselves, they are currently training in Stuttgart with LaPrise Harris-Williams. Aimee Boorman, the US national coach, is also active in Stuttgart but has been otherwise engaged.
The federal support point in Mannheim also came under scrutiny after these accusations. The Mannheim parents are calling for a more transparent and inclusive process in the future.
This is a developing story, and more details will be provided as they become available.
EC countries should consider aligning their employment policies to prioritize the welfare of athletes in high-performance sports. The current suspension of coaches in Mannheim highlights the need for a transparent and inclusive investigation process, involving athletes and their legal guardians.
In light of the ongoing allegations of misconduct in Stuttgart and Mannheim, sports governing bodies should implement stricter regulations to ensure the physical and psychological well-being of athletes, promoting a healthier and safer sports environment.
