Olympic bronze medallist Nile Wilson claims British gymnasts are “treated like pieces of meat” because of the “culture of abuse” that exist...
Olympic bronze medallist Nile Wilson claims British gymnasts are “treated like pieces of meat” because of the “culture of abuse” that exists in the sport.
Wilson is the most high-profile male gymnast to join the bullying and abuse allegations that have engulfed British Gymnastics.
The 24-year-old made history when he became the first Briton to win an Olympic medal on the horizontal bar at Rio 2016.
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But Wilson’s experience of the sport has not been all positive and he admitted he was originally scared to speak out for fear of harming his future selection prospects.
“I would absolutely describe it as a culture of abuse, and I have lived and breathed it for 20 years,” he told the BBC on Monday.
“It’s emotional manipulation, being pushed through physical pain was certainly something I experienced. The gymnasts are still, in my opinion, treated like pieces of meat.
“I would say that I was abused. But we wanted to win Olympic medals - the governing body wanted to win Olympic medals, the coaches wanted to win Olympic medals.”
Earlier this year, Wilson made a complaint over an altercation with a senior member of staff at a social event at Leeds Gymnastics Club.
The grievance did not relate to his...
