What’s a gymnastics campaign without any controversy? Every year there’s some kind of discussion that keeps the community engaged, but some of them bring out the dark reality of the sport. In any activity, a coach is somebody who is like Superman, whose “S” represents “hope” and a guiding light for many young people who are aspiring to be professionals. However, society is not without its share of demons, and some of them can be particularly cruel to individuals with these talents.

A few days ago, there were questions imposed on the Hungarian Rhythmic Gymnastics Association (HRGA) and a Budapest club. There was an anonymous complaint that was lodged in the Swiss-based ethics body of the International Gymnastics Federation against a coach. But for what? Abuse and other forms of ill-treatment towards gymnasts under them. Yes, it’s disheartening to hear about such situations, and this time, an Olympic gymnast has shared her story, bringing numerous issues to the forefront.

A wake-up call to the gymnastics community

So who’s this gymnast who has raised concerns? Tabea Alt is a former German elite artistic gymnast who has earned many accolades in her career, notably a bronze medal at the 2017 Montreal World Championships in balance beam. Going straight to the point, Alt emphasized the issues in her Instagram post, stating, “For a long time I hesitated to express myself publicly about the abuses in Stuttgart, but also in German women’s gymnastics in general. The idea of addressing such topics better internally seemed safer to me, since the public often has too little background knowledge to judge fairly or draw the right conclusions.”

Furthermore, Alt stated that back in 2021, she wrote a detailed letter to the responsible people about the issues in Stuttgart. However, this wasn’t all, as she continued, stating, “Even more: I have provided explicit suggestions for solutions, how I would like to get involved in this context and what, in my view, there are opportunities to resolve these wrongdoings and to PROTECT young talents who were still active at that time from the mistakes that were made to me.” Yes, the Olympian stepped in for a change, but did it go as planned?

“I had to realize with regret that it was unsuccessful and it led to nothing. It was ignored or just not taken seriously,” wrote Alt in a concerned tone. Even though many things were on the line, including her health, no one cared to notice the problem or even reply to her letters. She harbored no resentment, only a desire to protect these young talents from the same abuse she herself had endured. Furthermore, Alt mentioned the dark reality of the scene, stating, “In all these years, my health has been put on the line by disregarding medical ORDERS and allowing myself to gym with several FRACTURES (broken bones) and sending me to the competition. It is not an individual case: eating disorders, punishment training, painkillers, threats and humiliation were the order of the day. Today I know it was systematic physical and mental abuse.”

Gymnastics is no straightforward sport, and it comes with rigorous training programs. However, despite the physical strain gymnasts endure, poor mental health is the last thing they want to experience. “Finally, we need to be heard! It’s about young people, it’s about their health and their careers not stopping before they even start. Besides, it’s about the protection of perhaps the most beautiful sport in the world. This system has to change in order to evolve,” said Alt, concluding her statement. 

Indeed, the experiences the Olympian has endured are harrowing, yet instead of focusing solely on herself, she continues to strive to safeguard the youth within the industry. The officials of a sporting organization always have an upper hand in making many decisions for the athlete, but when these powers are misused, it just concerns the community. Similar to Alt’s confession, another controversy surfaced a few days ago, shedding light on the darker aspects of the sport.

The coaching controversy made many concerned

An anonymous complaint against a coach who has been playing a leading role in both the Hungarian Rhythmic Gymnastics Association (HRGA) and a Budapest club cast doubt on the integrity of gymnastics. But what was the content of the complaint? According to the editorial staff of Szabad Europa, the coach abuses, squeezes, even pulls, and pushes the underage athletes under their wing.

However, when the president of the HRGA, Gyorgy Bencze, was contacted about it, they had a contrasting opinion, stating, “I am not aware of such a report; the MRGSZ has not received any information about it, either officially or through any other channel. To my knowledge, the Hungarian Gymnastics Association (MATSZ) has not received any notification about such a case either.”

However, the sources present a different perspective, with numerous parents expressing concerns about their children, who frequently succumb to the coach’s maltreatment. While there are opposing views, it is undeniable that young athletes require protection from those who seek to undermine their aspirations rather than aid them in their journey.