Schäfer-Betz: "Systematic failure" in German gymnastics

In the debate about the abuses at the national training center in Stuttgart, top gymnast Pauline Schäfer-Betz denounces a "repeated systematic failure". It remains a central problem "that the people responsible for these abuses are covered up by the system", wrote the former balance beam world champion on Instagram. "As long as this is the case, there will be no real change."

The 28-year-old also alluded to her own experiences. With Schäfer-Betz at the helm, athletes from the national base in Chemnitz made serious allegations against their then coach Gabriele Frehse at the end of 2020. She allegedly harassed the gymnasts in training, administered medication without a doctor's prescription and did not allow any objections.

Frehse had always denied the allegations. Nevertheless, the German Gymnastics Federation (DTB) refused to continue working with her. After winning a legal dispute regarding her dismissal by the Olympic training center in Saxony, Frehse is now the women's selection coach in Austria. The public prosecutor's office in Chemnitz had previously dropped all investigations.

"I know what it's like to be trapped in such a system"

"I know what it's like to be trapped in such a system," Schäfer-Betz now wrote. "It takes unimaginable courage to address these abuses or make them public." Her own story was not an isolated case and she wanted to show that it was a "systematic problem".

Lead by former gymnasts Tabea Alt and Michelle Timm, several athletes had recently made grievances at the base in Stuttgart public. Among other things, they denounced "systematic physical and mental abuse".

System still "dysfunctional"

Active athletes have also spoken out. The DTB and the Swabian Gymnastics Federation announced an investigation. Two coaches have been temporarily suspended. Schäfer-Betz called for far-reaching reforms, "not cosmetic corrections".

The measures introduced, which she acknowledged, were "nowhere near" enough. Even warnings issued at the time were not taken seriously enough, "and current developments make it clear that the system is still dysfunctional", criticized Schäfer-Betz. Athletes were not being adequately protected.