Nile Wilson felt 'worthless' after British Gymnastics dismissed complaint against former club
Olympic bronze medallist Nile Wilson has said he felt "worthless" after a complaint he lodged against his former club was dismissed by British Gymnastics, saying athletes are "still treated like pieces of meat".
On Monday, Wilson became the highest profile male gymnast to speak out about claims of abusive coaching which have rocked British Gymnastics in recent weeks.
"I've been blessed to have had some incredible coaches, but it was certainly apparent that culture existed and still exists today, which I definitely want to change," Wilson, 24, told the BBC. "I would certainly say that I was abused. Without a doubt. I would absolutely describe it as a culture of abuse. And I've lived and breathed it for 20 years.
"This culture of 'win at all costs'… I think it was [a] coaching methodology where we felt what it feels like to live in fear - you perform or there's a consequence. And I think that affects you emotionally more than anything. In fear of even being able to speak about something that hurts, or voice your concerns.
"The medals provide the funding [for] the sport to be where it is today. We're the ones that win those medals - and yet the gymnasts are still treated like pieces of meat and paid the least."
Wilson joins scores of other gymnasts who have voiced their experiences of abuse in the last month, prompting UK Sport and the British Athlete Commission to launch an independent review of the sport. Like Wilson, fellow Rio 2016 medallist Amy Tinkler last month expressed frustration with British Gymnastics' way of dealing with formal complaints.
Three-time Commonwealth champion Wilson launched a grievance to British Gymnastics earlier this year about an altercation he had at a Leeds Gymnastics Club social event with a senior member of the club's staff (who was not his coach). An internal club investigation saw the complaint dismissed, and British Gymnastics kept to that ruling after a formal review.
Though the complaint did not relate to his training, Wilson said the process felt "unprofessional".
"I just felt like I wasn't being heard. And I was wronged," Wilson, who left the club afterwards, said. "I believe there's a massive element of control... I felt I was then threatened about voicing my concerns publicly... The governing body and the club - they didn't care. The amount of pressure and stress it caused... it was just a really tough time. I felt absolutely heartbroken."
He also said he was "scared" his selection for the Tokyo Olympic team may now be jeopardised as a result of voicing his concerns.
Leeds Gymnastics Club disputed Wilson's account of what happened, and told the BBC the allegations were "professionally and robustly investigated" and "independently verified".
In a statement, British Gymnastics backed the club, and stood by the review process that took place. On the subject of coaching abuses, the governing body said that mistreatment of gymnasts "is inexcusable", adding that they had not yet had any formal complaint in regards to coaching from Wilson, and encouraged all gymnasts to formally report their experiences.
