Gymnastics Community Praises 22-Year-Old Star’s Courage for Speaking Out Against Years of Abuse

Gymnastics in Germany is undergoing a crisis. It’s a crisis that’s shaken the very foundation of the sport’s culture in the nation. One by one, several gymnasts, such as Meolie Jauch, Catalina Santos-Moran Díaz, Michelle Timm, and Pauline Schäfer-Betz, have confessed their harrowing experience of suffering under the system for most of their athletic careers.

And now, yet another gymnast from the now-infamous national training center in Chemnitz has narrated her story. Lisa Schöniger, a 22-year-old who trained in Chemnitz, said, “I don’t want to keep silent anymore.” on Instagram. The post immediately caught the attention of the community. Fans who’ve been jolted by hard-hitting confessions time and again flocked to the post.

This time was no different. And the fans read about Schöniger’s difficult journey of mastering the craft at the national training center. One fan even thanked the gymnast for sharing her tale. “Thank you for your courage.” The fan commented on Schöniger’s post, where she spoke about the ordeal that lasted for eight years. This started when she was just 10 till she turned 18.

“I trained hard and, from an early age, pushed myself beyond my physical and mental limits. During these years, there was no real privacy or trustworthy contacts,” confessed the Olympian. However, despite giving it her all, the gymnast only faced criticism and humiliation. “I was belittled, manipulated, and humiliated in front of other gymnasts and coaches,” said Schöniger.

“The focus was mainly on weight, injuries, and performance in training and competition. I starved myself for medical examinations and competitions just to meet others’ expectations.” Confessed the 22-year-old gymnast about the years of mental abuse and the self-inflicted physical trauma. And it was the result of that treatment. Unfortunately, Schöniger’s account echoed those who spoke up before her.

Amelie Pfeil, who also trained at Chemnitz, narrated a similar tale. “Every day felt like a battle. Not for gymnastics, but for survival in the system,” said Pfeil. The injuries suffered by Amelie Pfeil and Schäfer-Betz, among others, were also ignored. And it added to their mental and physical trauma. Gymnastic glory at any cost was their only pursuit. And they ignored everything else for this.

The 22-year-old had the same story, as she confessed that painkillers had become her “constant companions” at Chemnitz. In 2020, the 22-year-old finally left the training facility after years of mistreatment. However, it took her another four years to finally muster the courage to speak. And the fans continued to praise her for it.

“Very brave of you and the right decision,” commented another Instagram user who read the gymnast’s story. Yet, the fans didn’t just praise Lisa Schöniger. Hearing so many gymnasts speak against the system, the fans joined the gymnasts in making just one demand.

The gymnastics community showed support for Schöniger’s cause

Besides sharing their stories, every German gymnast who has spoken up about the practices that made them suffer for years asked for just one thing. Lisa Schöniger is no different because, like all her fellow gymnasts, she simply wants change. And after learning of the conditions of so many of the athletes they cheered for, the fans now want the same.

‘Thank you so much for your courage in writing your story so impressively and sharing it publicly. What you and many of your gymnasts have experienced is under no circumstances okay, and I hope that something finally changes!” commented one fan, amplifying the demands of athletes they have grown to love and support on the mat.

“Achieving top performances, medals, and success should never be more important than the health and dignity of the athletes.” explained the gymnast, and her demand was no different from that of others who have already spoken up. Whether it’s world championship medalist Tabea Alt or Olympian Pauline Schäfer-Betz, they’ve all made this same demand.

And after identifying the problem, they now demand a change in the system that puts an athlete’s physical and mental health behind earning medals. Fans praised the fact that despite her eight-year ordeal, the gymnast has still found the courage to make this demand in public. “Brave Lisa!!! It takes a lot of courage to accuse, show up, and say stop!!” commented a gymnastics enthusiast.

“I hope you can help others break the cycle and break the silence!!!” the fan wrote in their hopeful, optimistic comment. Another thought the same. “With your courage, you can hopefully encourage many other athletes to work on change!” the other fan encouraged. While it’s still unclear how long it took to change such an entrenched system, gymnasts such as Lisa Schöniger are ready to make their stand.