2026/01/01 by Fanny Kuhlin, Natalie Barker‐Ruchti, Natalie Barker-Ruchti +4
Psychology · Social Sciences · #Diversity and Impact of Dance #Sport Psychology and Performance #Sports, Gender, and Society
paper · pdf · doi:10.1123/ssj.2025-0188
openalex publication_date 2026/01/01 · openalex created_date 2026/07/04 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/21
Hundreds of current and former gymnasts have recently disclosed experiences of abuse and neglect in women’s artistic gymnastics, and gymnastics organizations have begun to implement measures to safeguard gymnasts. However, research suggests that safeguarding strategies (still) often fail to protect athletes, and policies can only be effective if they are accompanied with cultural change. For this study, ethnographic fieldwork was undertaken to understand the evolving nature of an elite gymnastics training context that has been implementing changes to safeguard gymnasts. We use the “Pixie Model” of women’s artistic gymnastics to understand this changing context in relation to traditional (abusive) ideologies and practices. Our findings suggest that, although the training context has evolved, significant systematic barriers for broader cultural transformation persist.