British Gymnastics has said it remains “committed” to resolving the individual legal claims of up to 40 gymnasts, despite frustrations among complainants that only one case has been settled two years after action was threatened.
In the first few months of 2021, 38 former gymnasts, including four former Olympians, announced they intended to take action alleging safeguarding failures, including systemic physical and psychological abuse perpetrated by gymnastics coaches on children as young as six.
The case quickly moved to settlement talks but two years later only one has been resolved.
Emma Webb (not her real name), who alleges she was abused between the ages of five and 12 by her coach and has detailed her story in the Guardian on Friday, is set to join the action against British Gymnastics, but lawyers representing the gymnasts have raised concerns about the drawn-out process.
A statement from the law firm Hausfeld said: “For many of the claimants Hausfeld represents, British Gymnastics’ failure to deal with their civil claims more swiftly, adds insult to injury. In June 2022, the Whyte review was crystal clear exposing an organisation that failed to prioritise athletes’ welfare. Many of our clients are now adults seeking redress as a result of British Gymnastics’ alleged safeguarding failures.
“The delays they have encountered in resolving their claims to date, indicates a continuation of that collective failure – particularly where claimants have been given no indication of when the ongoing investigations will be completed and what impact they will have on their civil claims.”
A statement from British Gymnastics said: “British Gymnastics has a clear duty to its members with regard to their safeguarding and wellbeing. In accordance with this duty and to ensure a fair and robust process, we instituted an Independent Complaints Process (ICP) to investigate, on a confidential basis, a number of allegations and complaints that have been raised. The ICP is entirely independent of British Gymnastics and is overseen by a King’s Counsel. These independent safeguarding investigations and the civil claims remain separate and distinct processes, with differing purposes and procedures.”
The governing body added that it remains “committed to helping to resolve each individual civil legal claim but a significant number of them cannot be fully investigated and then resolved until the conclusion of the related ongoing independent safeguarding investigation processes which rightly sit outside of British Gymnastics’ control”.
• The NSPCC offers support to children on 0800 1111, and adults concerned about a child on 0808 800 5000. The National Association for People Abused in Childhood (Napac) offers support for adult survivors on 0808 801 0331.
