Figure Skating Association: "Must not occur"

In a sound recording that Expressen has taken part in, a well-credited coach is heard criticizing a 19-year-old rider in a prominent Swedish club for having gained weight.

- You only get bigger and bigger every week, the trainer tells the rider.

Katarina Henriksson, chair of the Swedish Figure Skating Association, did not know about the incident until she read about it in the newspaper yesterday.

- Of course, it is serious, what appears in the article and in the audio file. But there is nothing we have known about and received any notification about, says Katarina Henriksson to SVT Sport.

Henriksson contacted the accused coach immediately after she read the article.

- I've talked briefly with the coach. We will, of course, talk to them again and others concerned to get a picture of what has happened and to decide what we can do about this, because this should not happen.

What did the coach say when you called?

- I don't want to comment on that. It was a short conversation, I was surprised when I saw this in the Express so I wanted to check the situation quickly.

In the coming days, the union will talk to the coach again and others involved in the association. Before that, Henriksson does not know how the union will proceed with the charges.

- We have to get all the information and then decide on how to proceed with this. Before we know it all, I have a hard time pronouncing.

Over the past year there have been several reports of mistreatment in Swedish figure skating. Earlier this year, among other things, a Swedish trainer for mental abuse and weight was dropped against a 15-year-old JVM rider.

Last winter, the union appointed an external investigation of its entire operations and by mid-May the investigation should be completed. The investigation includes, among other things, a survey that all members who wish to answer. In addition, the Board and some active participants will be interviewed.

Henriksson hopes that the riders in the association where the accused coach resides are involved in the investigation.  

- It is important for riders in clubs where there are problems, and there is obviously here, talk about it.

- There are associations where it does not work to 100 percent as it should and then we must find what we can do from the union's side to counteract such situations. This is also why we have this external investigation to be able to see from the outside, what measures are required.

What do you say about the headlines that have been around Swedish figure skating?

- Elite sports are tough regardless of sports, but that should not be wrong. There must be a long-term plan to reach the goals and we will help them with that. I think we have worked with this a number of hairs, just sustainable development for individuals. Then we have not reached all the way and then it is good that we do an investigation. We want it to be fun to do figure skating, then we have to do everything we can to make it so.