Specialist Therapy for Gymnasts
Our members can access specialist therapeutic support. This includes online group therapy and in certain circumstances 1:2:1 therapy. All our therapy is delivered by qualified psychotherapists with lived experience of abuse in gymnastics.
Following the release of Athlete A in 2020, hundreds of former elite gymnasts came forward around the world to report experiences of psychological and physical violence, sexual harassment, and organizational neglect. Research by G4CI’s Natalie Barker-Ruchti and colleagues, published in 2025, identified the urgent need for survivor-centered support in gymnastics.
More specifically, over 50 negative outcomes of participation in gymnastics were identified, including PTSD, depression, anxiety, eating disorders, chronic pain, relationship difficulties, and challenges in education and career, with many of these symptoms evolving over time, meaning survivors reported facing new difficulties even years after leaving the sport.
This ground-breaking trauma-informed study revealed that harmful coaching practices can have lifelong consequences, affecting psychological, behavioural, physical, and material outcomes for decades after retirement. Importantly, the study also identified pathways to resilience and post-traumatic growth, fostered through supportive communities, advocacy, and public recognition of abuse.
Survivor Support
At Gymnasts for Change International, our Survivor Support program exists to meet these complex, evolving needs. By providing trauma-informed care, validating experiences, and creating spaces for connection and advocacy, we help survivors navigate the lasting impacts of interpersonal violence in gymnastics. Our approach recognises that trauma cannot be “fixed”. It must be honoured, carried and supported.
Healing is not about returning to who you were before; it is about learning to carry what happened with resilience, self-respect, and self-care. Through Survivor Support, we empower former gymnasts to reclaim their voices, access resources, and channel their experiences into advocacy and systemic change. The research shows that when survivors are heard, validated, and supported, resilience can develop - and pain can be transformed into different life experiences.
If you have experienced harm in gymnastics or need guidance on raising concerns safely, our team is here to support you. Contact Gymnasts for Change Survivor Support team to learn more about available resources and next steps.
Our members can access specialist therapeutic support via our online network. Membership Applications are currently paused, but will reopen shortly. All our therapy is delivered by qualified psychotherapists with lived experience of abuse in gymnastics.
