Olympians Call For Gymnastics Canada Leadership To Resign

Summary

• Three of Canada’s top gymnasts write letter to Gymnastics Canada
• They want the board Chairman and CEO to resign from their posts
• Senior leaders accused of not doing enough to stop toxic culture 

Gymnastics Canada CEO Ian Moss appeared before the House of Commons earlier this week to give evidence of why he did not do sack controversial coach Alex Bard when they were numerous allegations made of his inappropriate behaviour with young Canadian female gymnasts.

While Moss was providing evidence at the House of Commons, three of Canada’s top gymnasts (Ellie Black, Rosie MacLennan and Kyle Shewfelt) wrote a letter to the board of directors at Gymnastics Canada and called for Moss and Chairman Jeffery Thomson to resign immediately.

New Leadership Required To Bring In Change

Ellie Black is a three time Olympic gymnast and a world champion, Rosie MacLennan was the trampoline champion during the 2016 and 2012 Olympics while Kyle Shewfelt won gold during the 2004 Olympics. 

Their letter says that based on how Moss and Thomson have handled complaints, they have no faith in their leadership anymore and want the board to take immediate action and remove them from the leadership team. The letter goes on to encourage the board to bring in new leadership and change at Gymnastics Canada.

These three champions are not the only one calling for change at Gymnastics Canada! Gymnasts for Change Canada, an organization that focuses on stopping abuse in gymnastics had earlier published a letter signed by 500 Canadian athletes calling for a third party investigation into Gymnastics Canada.

Bard was the former national coach for Team Canada and spent nearly 30 years in the organization. He fostered a culture of kissing his young female gymnasts, was accused of being abuse towards female coaches and inappropriately touching his students.

Many young gymnasts and some coaches were allegedly terrified of saying anything to Bard due to his position and seniority in Gymnastics Canada.

Moss Explains Why Bard Was Not Sacked Immediately   

Moss has been CEO since 2018 and Bard was eventually fired in 2019! Moss has been under a lot of pressure to explain his delay in taking action and removing Bard. The CEO told the House of Commons that Gymnastics Canada had process and procedures in place to deal with complaints and he followed those policies. 

Moss said that he could not dismiss Bard just based on allegations; it had to go through due process of being vetted before any action could be taken.