The Minister of Sports, Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, announced Sunday evening that an investigation would be opened after the broadcast on the Stade 2 program of testimonies from six former gymnasts of the France team denouncing abuse. Six former gymnasts, four of whom spoke openly, denounced physical or psychological violence on the part of a senior leader of the French artistic gymnastics team and a coach.
“What is needed is that we can open an investigation and we will do it tomorrow (Monday) morning with the teams of the Ministry of Sports”, reacted the minister on the stage of Stage 2. For the moment, the two people targeted by these testimonies have received neither criminal nor disciplinary sanction and France Télévisions has not disclosed their identity.
“You’re a goat, you suck, you’re good for nothing”
The investigation released on Sunday evening reports that the coach was publicly denounced in 2007 for his methods in Switzerland, before he officiated in the France team, and was implicated in 2019 by a Mexican gymnast. The second person targeted is “a woman (…), senior manager of the French gym team for fifteen years”.
Former gymnast now 26 years old, Valentine Sabatou explains to the camera that she was forced at 16 to participate in a demonstration despite a broken ankle, when the coach was “aware” of this injury. Marine Petit, 15 at the time, said she was slapped by the senior official after attending a party around silver medalist Thomas Bouhail during the Beijing Games in 2008.
“You’re a goat, you suck, you’re good for nothing (…) When are you going to stop gaining weight? “: Clara Della Vedova denounces her the many insults she has suffered, in particular on her weight – like the two other athletes who speak on condition of anonymity. A climate so deleterious that after injuring an Achilles tendon before the London Games in 2012, she said she felt “a huge relief, because it was all over”.
The coach fights back
The coach in question defended himself in writing to France Télé. If he disputes Valentine Sabatou’s version of his injury, he admits having said hurtful words. The Federation has not yet reacted to the report, but Amélie Oudéa-Castéra assured that she would summon its president, James Blateau, as well as the national technical director.