Damning report on British Gymnastics reveals child gymnasts abused and denied water, food and toilet breaks

British Gymnastics fostered a culture that put the pursuit of medals above the welfare of its gymnasts, found the Whyte review. Photograph: Digital Vision./Getty Images

British Gymnastics enabled a culture where young gymnasts were starved, body shamed and abused in a system that ruthlessly put the pursuit of medals over the protection of children, a devastating report has found.

The independent review by Anne Whyte QC, based on more than 400 submissions from those in the sport, unearthed stories of gymnasts as young as seven being sat on by coaches while stretching and others humiliated in front of their peers and deprived of food and water by coaches.