Scandal in the gymnastics association: trainer Frehse defends herself against allegations!

Scandal in the gymnastics association: trainer Frehse defends herself against allegations!

In the debate about mental violence in the gymnast area, the former trainer Gabriele Frehse made serious allegations against the German Turner Association (DTB). According to a report by the Leipziger Volkszeitung ( lvz.de ) The allegations excluded and would like a common dialogue. Her position is particularly explosive, since allegations of mental violence have been loud in the national squad since 2020.

the DTB, on the other hand, explains that the processing process together with a broad group of participants - including athletes and officials - is already underway. However, Frehse was not part of this process because it did not recognize the allegation of a misconduct. However, she regretted it when she violated gymnasts through her speech.

allegations and excuses

The course of the events is complex. During the conversations about psychological violence in gymnastics, not only Frehse, but also prominent athletes such as the world champion on the balance beam, Pauline Schäfer, accusations. As early as November 2020, she and other gymnasts had made their experiences public. These allegations have been known to the DTB since 2018/2019, but attempts to inform were evaluated as inadequate. According to Deutschlandfunk , DTB representative Andrea Schültke apologized in January 2021 with the affected gymnasts who were not adequately heard by the association leadership.

FREHSE, after the DTB demanded its release from the Saxon Olympic base and discussed the opportunity to withdraw the coaching license, which depends on the exhibiting area. In the DTB's code of honor, the responsibility of the trainers for the integrity of the athletes is emphasized. These incidents not only throw a shadow over the gymnastics system, but also show the need for a fundamental reform.

cultural and structural change in focus

The German Turner Association has initiated a cultural and structural change process to prevent incidents of violence, especially psychological violence. In the past six months, more psychological violence has been reported to bases in Stuttgart and Mannheim. The processing process aims to make training facilities into safe places without violence.

In the context of competitive sports, it becomes clear that successful prevention requires an understanding and support of everyone involved. The focus is on the athletes who are supposed to practice their sport with joy and perseverance. The support from trainers and relatives is crucial. According to Hogrefe , a balance must be asked, promote and support in order to maintain ethical standards and to protect children and young people.

The challenges in the gymnast area are also reflected in other sports where humiliating training methods are discussed. The current scandal raises important questions about the development and implementation of concepts for mental health in competitive sport, which must include all relevant aspects such as ethics and child protection. Systemic approaches are required to create transparent structures and improve relationships between athletes and trainers so that preventive measures can be effectively implemented.