Former Great Britain gymnast from Bury St Edmunds says scandal-rocked sport must modernise
A former Great Britain gymnast is playing his part to help change the face of a sport recently rocked by scandal.
Ben Brason, 28, said that when claims about training by several high-profile gymnasts first came to light in July, they "didn’t come as a surprise".
UK Sport and Sport England have now commissioned an independent review and the NSPCC and British Athletes Commission have launched a confidential hotline for gymnasts to report mistreatment.
The allegations include gruelling training regimes, verbal abuse and pressure to lose weight.
Ben is hoping change all that by re-introducing a sense of fun into the sport to help rebuild its reputation.
“It is fantastic to now see people finally using their voice which hopefully will lead to a positive change in the culture of gymnastics,” said Ben.
“There are some amazing clubs but there are also those which I would say are now old fashioned.
“Some of the allegations though are horrific. I am pleased that there is an independent review being conducted, it will make for a positive change and make people fall in love with such a phenomenal sport once again and constantly produce happy, healthy athletes, all round.”
Ben, who lives in Bury St Edmunds discovered gymnastics in his teens. He is launching his new business called Academy of Movement, with partner Jamie Anderson, with a circus summer school on Monday.
People of all ages can learn circus skills, dance and gymnastics, taught by two world-class entertainers.
Ben was selected for the Great Britain team in 2011 and performed in the Olympic Games opening ceremony in 2012.
This week, Olympic medallist Nile Wilson criticised some of his own training as ‘abusive’ and claimed gymnasts were often treated ‘like pieces of meat’.
Other high-profile names have described the sport as suffering a ‘culture of fear’.
“My speciality was tumbling,” added Ben.
“There were a few incidents during my training which were difficult, such as being forced to continue training, despite having hit my head, and losing a tooth.
“I also remember being made to go on 10K runs for making a bad landing and being called names and sworn at, daily.
"But they didn't change my view of what is a fantastic sport.
“I think the way the culture needs to change and modernise is for every coach to understand that every gymnast is different, the participants learn in different ways, you need to understand and listen to the individual, your most important job as a coach is to ultimately make your classes enjoyable and create happy positive memories within sport.
"Which is what we are doing at our new circus, dance and gymnastic classes.
"A coach should not only teach and educate but more than that you are a person who should be seen as a positive role model for that child."
Ben and Jamie had planned to launch their Academy of Movement in April but lockdown halted their plans.
A new three day summer circus school begins on August 15 and a second on August 25.
For more information, visit: academyofmovement.co.uk