Even convicted after abuse allegations: Doubts about national coach measure in gymnastics scandal

Stuttgart - He is now supposed to help in a very acute situation, calm tempers and respond to gymnasts who, according to allegations, have been physically and emotionally abused. But the fact that the current German national gymnastics coach Gerben Wiersma (47) of all people is now being sent to Stuttgart is causing the next uproar in the scene.

The Dutchman has been controversial since taking office in February 2022. In October 2021, he was found guilty by the Dutch Court of Arbitration for Sport following allegations of abuse in his home country.

In 2020, numerous Dutch gymnasts had accused their coaches of physical and psychological abuse (in the years before 2011), including ignoring injuries. The Netflix documentary "Athlete A" about sexual and emotional abuse in US gymnastics is said to have been the trigger at the time.

Out of 25 coaches in the Netherlands, Wiersma was the only one to be convicted but remained unpunished as he had previously resigned of his own accord.

At the time, the 47-year-old said that the accusations had been made a long time ago and that he had subsequently been one of the initiators of a cultural change in gymnastics.

Wiersma is to take over units at the Kunst-Turn-Forum Stuttgart from January 7. Also because, according to the Stuttgarter Zeitung , there havebeen initial personnel consequences thereand two trainers have been temporarily released until January 19.

They are said to be two top coaches. This is another reason why Wiersma and junior national coach Claudia Schunk (52) are to take over units.

One user commented on an Instagram post by SWR: "You kick out coaches who abuse gymnasts and then bring in a coach who was found guilty in Holland? Are you serious DTB? That shows that you haven't understood anything. How can that be?"

Not only outsiders, but also one of the athletes from Germany who raised her voice, obviously has doubts about this. Janine Berger (28) shared a screenshot of the comment in her Instagram story and put a big exclamation mark behind it.

Wiersma's contract was only extended in October. At the time, he said in an official statement that "together we will continue to consistently pursue our principle of creating medal opportunities with mature and happy athletes at the decisive events."

Just two months later, the avalanche of accusations rolled towards the DTB, which admitted on New Year's Eve: "We will also critically examine the extent to which the right positive developments have already been triggered by the cultural and structural change and other initiatives or whether fundamental improvements are needed here too," it said in a statement.

Following the accusations, the DTB had announced an intensive and complete investigation into the allegations.