Ilonka was a talented young athlete. For example, she ran the 5 kilometers in 17 minutes and 41 seconds. She was passionate and lived for her sport. She found a trainer who was too and who wanted to make her better. “We got along well. There was a relationship of trust. ”
From bad to worse
But that was taken advantage of. “He started by saying he thought I had nice breasts. It slowly went from bad to worse. One hand in a place where it should not be. Afterwards you ask yourself: did he really do that? But I often thought: well, he probably wouldn’t have intended it that way. Until he started doing things that you think: yes, he really means that, ‘she looks back.
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Online platform
On Thursday an online platform was presented in Doetinchem in which many more victims tell their stories. It is an initiative of Renald Major. As a youth player of Vitesse he also became a victim of sexual abuse.
The need to address this issue is reflected in the numbers. In the Netherlands, one in eight athletes fall victim to sexually transgressive behavior. “It is unacceptable,” says Arnhem mayor Marcouch. “If you take your child to a sports club as a parent, you have to be able to ensure that this happens in a safe environment.”
Guilty
The reason that only 10 percent of the victims come out with their story is guilt. “I had the idea that it took so long that I made it possible myself,” says Ilonka.
Solutions to these problems are not so easy to find. Nor is a statement of conduct salvating. Many associations do request this from their volunteers and trainers. “But such a statement does not say everything,” said Marcouch. “That only says something about your past. And actually only if you are caught. ” The citizen’s father of Arnhem hopes for critical looks from people within the associations and good control at the door.
In her own words, Ilonka is now doing well. “I’ve had hard times. Sometimes it has been very difficult. I want to tell everyone who has had to deal with this not to feel guilty. It is not your fault. And besides: come out with it. Tell your story. Report it. “
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