Several figure skaters have criticized a well-credited coach in the Stockholm club Solna. The young riders claim that the person should have exposed them to scalding and harmful exercise, says DN.
European rider Matilda Algotsson is one of six talented riders who have broken with the club due to the poor treatment. Now she tells SVT Sport what the time in the club looked like.
- I was really scared really ... Scared to make a mistake because if I did wrong I would get a bang. I always tried to do the right thing and even though the coach asked a question, I knew there was a right answer and that answer I have to find. Throughout my time in Solna I had no opinions of my own and did not know what I thought about anything. I was just trying to say the right things or do the right things.
"It goes well as long as you buy everything"JVM rider Selma Ihr is another who also broke with his coach and his association. The 15-year-old, who has been selected for both the Junior World Cup and the Youth Olympic Games, tells DN that she has experienced great pressure regarding food and weight.
- It has escalated. I ended up in Solna two years ago and I was told the first time that I should lose weight when I was 13 years old. The wisdom has definitely existed before but when I went it was never so bad that I had to send reports every week. I have experienced it but not at all on the same level as with Selma, says Matilda Algotsson.
How difficult is it in your position to stand up to his coach?
- It didn't work at all. Well, I started doing it just before I stopped in Solna and that was why I had to quit. I started to question and then it went away. It goes well as long as you buy everything.
Deep grooveSix years of training in the association is something that has left deep marks on the 21-year-old.
- I have tried to pretend that it has not affected me but very much remains. It's affected me a lot, it's still scary and I find it scary to make my own decisions.