The world of Mexican gymnastics was shaken when Elsa Garciaone of its outstanding athletes, raised her voice against the physical and psychological abuse she suffered at the hands of the French coaches Eric Demay and Cécile Pellerin Demay, hired by the Mexican Gymnastics Federation (FMG).
The complaint, made in November 2019 through the Disciplinary Commission of the Gymnastics Ethics Foundation (GEF)triggered a long investigation that finally brought justice for the athlete, but also highlighted systemic failures in the protection of athletes.
The GEF report, published on April 11, determined that Eric Demay would be suspended for two years, while Cécile Pellerin would face a one-year suspension. This decision implies that they will not be able to serve as coaches during the established period, nor participate in activities endorsed by the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG).
Besides, the Mexican Gymnastics Federation was fined 10 thousand Swiss francs (193,295 pesos) for his negligence in handling the case and was required create a preventive and corrective action protocol before the end of 2024.
The abuses reported by García are shocking. The French coaches, hired to improve the performance of the national gymnastics team ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, They were described as extremely controlling and threatening. García and her colleagues were subjected to excessive training, without taking into account their individual needs or injuries, which put her physical integrity at risk.
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Elsa García recounted how she was subjected to constant humiliation and mistreatment, even in front of her teammates. Despite undergoing back surgery, she was forced to lift weights, receiving insults and contempt from the trainers. This abuse was not exclusive to García; another video showed Coach Demay spanking gymnast Victoria Mata during training.
The president of the Mexican Gymnastics Federation, Gustavo Salazar, was singled out for being informed of the abuses and not taking action, evidencing a lack of institutional responsibility in the protection of athletes.
In their defense, the French coaches rated Elsa García “frustrated” for not qualifying for the Olympic Gamesthus ignoring the seriousness of their actions and the impact on the athlete’s physical and mental health.
Elsa García’s case represents the importance of protecting athletes from abuse and harassment, but also the need for greater oversight and accountability within sports federations.
