Gymnastics association KNGU and top gymnast Eythora Thorsdottir have made agreements about the details of her route to the Olympic Games in Tokyo. Thorsdottir remains part of TeamNL and visits the team meetings in Heerenveen, but continues to train individually under Patrick Kiens at her club PAX Hoofddorp.
“Clear and proper agreements have been made about this,” said KNGU technical director Mark Meijer on Monday. “I want to leave it at that.”
Difference of opinion
Thorsdottir has been working with Kiens for years, who has been told by the KNGU that he is no longer welcome at TeamNL. Between the KNGU and Kiens (and also his fellow trainer Frank Louter of TON Almelo) there is a big difference of opinion about how the crisis in Dutch gymnastics should be tackled.
Thorsdottir indicated earlier that she would not want to continue without her trainer. She seriously doubted the continuation of her career if Kiens was no longer allowed to accompany her.
Disclosures
The crisis arose last summer, after former national coach Gerrit Beltman had confessed in the Noordhollands Dagblad that he had misbehaved physically and mentally towards gymnasts as a trainer. Subsequently, several former gymnasts came out with testimonials about widespread abuse of power and intimidation in the national gymnastics. Major research is currently being conducted into this.
From the summer to 31 January, 223 contact moments were held at the KNGU about matters related to unacceptable behavior. It concerns a total of 154 accused over a period of 35 years, in broad and top sport. Most cases took place before 2012.
The KNGU and the Centrum Veilige Sport Nederland have forwarded 68 contacts / reports to the Institute of Sports Justice (ISR). The ISR is conducting preliminary investigations. The authority previously announced that studies are being conducted into the behavior of 25 gymnastics trainers.
Turner Louwije will stop for the time being
Meijer also announced on Monday that gymnast Bram Louwije is no longer part of the national selection for the time being. The naturalized Belgian, who has been working for the Netherlands since 2017, will reflect on his future. “We have had intensive discussions,” says Louwije (26) in an explanation. “In consultation it was decided to withdraw for now. I want to take the time to investigate what I really want to do, what my motives are.”
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