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Ariella Kaeslin is one of eight athletes who describes her ordeal. Bild: AP
The terrifying truth of the Magglingen protocols: how gymnasts break
In the Magglingen Protocols, the former best gymnasts describe how they were humiliated. Current national coach Fabien Martin is also charged.
Magglingen changes you. I ran out of feelings. I didn’t feel anything from my head down. I had to learn again to understand that I am hungry. Or that I have to stop if something hurts. “Lisa Rusconi recalls with horror her time at the national entertainment center in Magglingen.
The Eidgenössische Hochschule für Sport Magglingen (EHSM) in 2012. Photo: trapezoidal
The “Magglingen Protocols” from the “Magazin” show how bad the weather is in the Swiss Gymnastics Federation (STV). In it, eight former top-level gymnasts in the disciplines of artistic gymnastics and rhythmic gymnastics denounce serious misconduct, physical and verbal aggression. From scare tactics, depression and eating disorders.
The fact that a lot is happening at STV when it comes to dealing with athletes was first discussed in this newspaper in December 2019. Even in the case of a gymnast allegedly being sexually abused at the regional performance center in the east. From Switzerland, the STV hasn’t had a good figure since mid-2019, as research by CH Media shows.
This summer, former athletes commented on “Blick,” “Le Temps,” “NZZ am Sonntag,” and RTS, a western Swiss television. In the “Magazin” the athletes now describe how they were humiliated.
Gymnasts must remain children
The issue is also a systematic problem. Artistic gymnastics and rhythmic gymnastics are sports for children. Unlike most sports, female athletes are not at their best as adults. They are most agile when their bodies resemble that of a girl.
Overly ambitious coaches urge female athletes to starve so their bodies don’t change during puberty. Athletes eat half yogurt in the evening and some salad leaves at lunch. Lisa Rusconi explains: “I happened to pass out during training. I fell, I fell We were rarely allowed to have a drink during training. In the evening I came to the host family with dry, white lips. “
Loss of self esteem
To succeed in elite sport, athletes always have to subordinate themselves a lot. In the case of the gymnasts, this was exaggerated. Marine Périchon relates:
“In training ground, I didn’t know if it was day or night anymore, they kept us in the hall for so long. Over time, I lost contact with my body. I didn’t feel it anymore, I didn’t feel myself. I became a robot that felt no pain. We were not allowed to eat or drink anything. When I collapsed from exhaustion, Vesela (Vesela Dimitrova, national rhythmic gymnastics coach until 2013) pointed to an empty plastic bag: “Look, Marine, it’s you. You’re nothing.” I believed him. I was so exhausted that I thought: yes, he’s right. This is me. I’m nothing. Then he broke the sack in two. “
Current accusations against national coach Fabien Martin
Uncommon manners in Magglingen seem to have been a reality not only in the past, accusations have been made about current decision makers as well. Lynn Genhart and Fabienne Studer criticize current national gymnastics coach Fabien Martin, whose contract was recently extended until 2024 by the STV.
According to Studer, Martin threatened to get fired from the start. This is part of the culture of fear that prevails in Magglingen. And Genhart said, “Fabien had different strategies to bring us down.” One of them was comments on eating behavior and body weight.
The Swiss gymnast Ariella Kaeslin, left, after the floor exercise, along with the now much criticized coach Fabien Martin 2007. Photo: trapezoidal
In the summer, the STV fired national gymnastics coach Iliana Dineva due to public pressure. In addition, main sports director Felix Stingelin was suspended until further notice. The association ordered an external investigation. Meanwhile, he does not comment publicly on this. Swiss Olympic and the Federal Office for Sports are transferring responsibility to the STV.
Something is changing?
The question of whether something will change permanently remains justified. In the past two decades, STV fired coaches four times. 2002 Olga Bullert, national coach in rhythmic gymnastics, 2007 Eric Demay, national coach in women’s gymnastics, 2013 Heike Netzschitz and Vesela Dimitrova, national coaches in rhythmic gymnastics and in 2020 finally Iliana Dineva and Aneliya Stancheva, national coaches in rhythmic gymnastics. Nothing has changed as a result of the numerous layoffs.
What has to happen now for something to happen? The STV must address this issue in detail and primarily after this next public outcry at the latest.
After the abuse, the athletes suffered from anxiety disorders, eating disorders, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Ariella Kaeslin says: “As a gymnast, you think: if I take my life, not only is it over, but you also think: so I can finish the coach.” (aargauerzeitung.ch)
