Gymnastics and Child Abuse: Female Gymnasts’s Experiences

This study aimed to examine child abuse in sports from the perspective of elite female gymnasts. The participants included 10 retired gymnasts who took part national teams different categories. Participants' experience is at least 8 and maximum 12 years ranged age 28 36 years. data collected through in-depth individual interviews with were analyzed content analysis technique. In study, opinions on types originating “emotional”, “physical”, “sexual” “neglect” defined by World Health Organization International Olympic Committee, umbrella association sports, received. light information obtained experiences participants, it was emphasized that all mostly carried out coach some behavioral patterns, lack security environments paved way for sports. According research findings, has been determined athlete exposed emotional due behaviors such as verbal violence, pressure negative language use; physical excessive exertion throwing objects; sexual reasons sexually explicit conversations accommodation unsafe area negligence not fulfilling health conditions favoritism. As a result, experienced intense this situation left permanent effects adulthood.