The Dutch Gymnastics Federation (KNGU) has suspended all women’s national coaches, including gold coaches Vincent Wevers and Gerben Wiersma, following allegations of ill-treatment. All activities of the national women’s team such as competitions and team training would be suspended until further notice, the association said. “If we really want a change, we cannot take half measures,” said KNGU chairman Monique Kempff.
The association reacted to the statements of several former gymnasts that they had been systematically physically and mentally abused by at least two coaches. Former gymnast Joy Goedkoop said on Studio Sport that national coach Vincent Wevers hit and kicked her as a child. “Not every day, but degradation, outbursts of anger and ignorance were the order of the day. Emotions, feelings and pain were not allowed, there was no room for fatigue. You should work like a machine.”
Wevers was named “Coach of the Year” in the Netherlands in 2016 after his daughter Sanne won gold on the balance beam at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. It was the first Olympic individual medal for Dutch gymnastics.
“We don’t recognize ourselves in the picture”
Wevers, who is on vacation, did not want to comment on Goedkoop’s allegations yet. Sanne Wevers, her twin sister Lieke and other members of the current Dutch women’s gymnastics team distanced themselves from the accusations via social networks: “We do not recognize ourselves in the picture that Dutch gymnastics now depicts in relation to the stories of the past. If there was room for physical and mental abuse in the past, this is a thing of the past for us. Our current team has a healthy, top-class sports atmosphere. “
Former coach Gerrit Beltman had admitted in an interview with the Noordhollands Dagblad newspaper a few days ago that he had humiliated and intimidated gymnasts in the past. Afterwards, several former gymnasts had made allegations.
Editor’s note: In a first version of this text it was said that Sanne Wevers had won gold on the uneven bars in Rio, but she had won the Olympic victory on the balance beam. We have updated the position.
