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Gymnast wins civil case against British Gymnastics over coach abuse

Gymnast wins civil case against BG over coach abuse
© Reuters
Former acrobatic gymnast Eloise Jotischky becomes the first person to win a civil case against British Gymnastics over alleged abuse she suffered at the hands of a coach.

Former acrobatic gymnast Eloise Jotischky has won a civil case against British Gymnastics after opening up on the alleged abuse she suffered at the hands of an elite coach.

Jotischky worked under the wing of nationally-recognised trainer Andrew Griffiths at Heathrow Gymnastics Club and claimed that the coach would routinely torment her over her weight.

Griffiths formed a part of the GB coaching team for the recent Acrobatic World Championships in Baku three months ago, which came after BG had admitted liability in the case.

Jotischky claimed that she would be restricted to just 800 calories during days that she did not train and was told that she needed to weigh under seven stone by Griffiths, who is no longer employed by Heathrow.

Griffiths had reportedly already served one suspension for "inappropriate practices" before being reinstated on appeal, but he has since cancelled his membership with the governing body.

Opening up to BBC Sport about her experiences, Jotischky claimed that she would frequently be "screamed" at by Griffiths and was left "physically shaking" at the hands of the high-ranking coach.

"The weighing sessions could be more than once a week," Jotischky explained. "It was every Saturday, but sometimes we'd also be weighed during the week as well if they didn't like the way we looked.

"We'd have to line up and step on the scales with everyone else there, and sometimes they'd announce our weight or tell us to step to the side if they weren't happy with our weight so that they could have a conversation with us afterwards.

"We were sitting on the sofa just physically shaking. Having a grown man scream over you, it was terrifying. I think being scared from that then contributed to my routine on a Friday night having the hot baths because I was so terrified of what was to come, the consequences of not losing weight."

A plethora of BG coaches have been accused of malpractice and abuse by current and former GB gymnasts over the past couple of years following the conviction of disgraced USA gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar for multiple sexual offences.

Former national head coach Amanda Reddin - who oversaw Beth Tweddle's development - temporarily stepped aside in 2020 after becoming embroiled in the scandal and permanently left her role last month as investigations into historical allegations - which she denies - continue.

BG also stated that artistic coach Liz Kincaid would not travel to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics due to her retirement, but a report from last month claimed that she had also been accused of mistreatment by former gymnasts. Kincaid has also refuted the claims.

A wide-scale review into abuse in gymnastics in Britain led by Anne Whyte was established in the wake of athletes' allegations, and the results are due to be published this month.

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