Rutgers Gymnastics dazzled fans with a stunning performance at the George Washington quad meet in March, culminating in a score of 196.825, the second-highest in the program’s history. Despite their remarkable effort, they narrowly missed clinching the win, falling just short of No. 22 Penn State, who secured victory with a score of 196.875. As the season drew to a close, attention turned to the future, with anticipation building for Rutgers gymnastics.
However, recent developments have cast a shadow over the program’s outlook. Despite boasting a roster of thirty-four gymnasts for the upcoming season, an abundance by any standard—the school is reducing the number of athletes without any good reason. But the former gymnasts have bravely stepped forward, revealing the troubling circumstances of their dismissal from the school, sparking outrage across the board. This controversial move has raised serious doubts about the integrity of the sport and the principles it claims to stand for.
Experiences and calls for reform
One former athlete of the school, Isabella Hughes, mentioned on X, shared her experience: “I was going to be a senior on the team but coach cut me because I called her petty on my private story🤣 and she proved my point! honestly comical at this point bc no team that size is going to have a happy ending for everyone and she fails to see that and/or care.” However, instead of dismissing the comment, the coach (the school’s head coach is Umme Salim Beasley) apparently took offense and made the decision to remove the athlete from the team. They imply that the coach either fails to recognize or chooses to ignore this reality, further exacerbating the disconnect between the coach and the athletes.
Emily Wood, also a former athlete, shared her experience, “I would like to add that when I expressed concerns about my mental health, because I had just ended my gymnastics career due to an injury, the head coach suspended me for a week. That week was the week leading up to my senior night. It was the most awful and painful experience.” This reveals a distressing lack of empathy from the head coach, who not only failed to support Emily during a vulnerable time but also aggravated her distress and clarion call for help by suspending her during a significant event in her athletic career. How long will this toxic work culture prevail?
Brayden Battavio, a former athlete of Rutgers, shared her frustration, “I was told I was being cut because of the decision the doctors made to redshirt because of FRACTURES IN MY BACK! Never had a warning or any idea this was going to happen and was caught so off guard and my senior year was ripped from me. hey NCAA we need some help.” This highlights the harsh reality faced by student-athletes when their athletic careers are abruptly disrupted due to medical issues beyond their control. Supporters are now rallying behind the affected athletes, calling for transparency and accountability from the institution.
Reddit response to gymnastics concerns
As concerns regarding the treatment of gymnasts surfaced, Reddit became a platform for the gymnastics community to voice their apprehensions. The sentiment was palpably unsettling, with one user succinctly remarking, “That’s disturbing.” Another user delved deeper into the perceived systemic issues within the team dynamics, expressing, “Feels like stacking gymnasts up like this lets the coach treat these girls like a commodity. She certainly not putting the athlete first. Injury and you’re out. Poor coaching.” These comments reflect a growing awareness of the potential exploitation and disregard for athlete welfare within the gymnastics program.
Amidst the expressions of concern, there was also an undercurrent of disbelief and confusion. One user succinctly questioned, “Wtf is going on with this team?” This sentiment speaks to the broader need for transparency and accountability within athletic programs. Additionally, the response to Isabella Hughes’s experience revealed a blend of seriousness and dark humor.
While acknowledging the gravity of the situation, a user remarked, “Isabella Hughes’s comment about getting cut because the coach found out Hughes called her petty in a private social media post… I mean it’s not at all funny because that’s terrible behavior from the coach, but also, lol.” This juxtaposition underscores the complexity of the issues at hand and the need for comprehensive reform to ensure the fair treatment and well-being of athletes.
