In the SVT Sports review published in March of this year, nine former elite gymnasts in rhythmic gymnastics testified to a leadership culture where they were subjected to abuse, painful stretching, scolding and weight.
One of them was Clara Göthberg.
She quit rhythmic gymnastics in 2019 and chose to talk openly about her experiences.
- They said "the worse it does, the better it is".
It was terrible, she said, among other things.
As a consequence, one of the designated leaders, national team captain Katja Samsonova, was suspended from her duties in the national team and in the gymnastics association where she is a coach.
Now it is clear that she is welcome back.
ARCHIVE: Clara Göthberg chose to openly criticize the leadership culture (February 28, 2022)
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Clara Göthberg is one of nine former elite gymnasts who in SVT Sports' review testify to a harmful leadership culture within Swedish rhythmic gymnastics.
Photo: SVT
"Total trust"
In a long press release, the gymnastics federation announces that Samsonova will now be reactivated as federation captain because there is a "collective confidence in Katja and her leadership among the national team gymnasts, the national team management and the federation".
- We have interviewed all active players and coaches in the national team environment with the help of an external psychologist.
This was so we could ensure that the questions were asked in the right way and that they dared to say things they might not otherwise dare to say to us.
- And what the interviews landed on was that the gymnasts today are positive about and feel safe in the national team.
And with that, we feel secure in letting Katja step into the role again as federation captain because we believe she is an important part of the continued change work going forward, says the gymnastics federation's general secretary Pelle Malmborg.
I wonder what signals the decision sends
SVT Sport has been in contact with Clara Göthberg, who writes in a text message that she thinks the gymnastics association's actions in the past six months have been both good and bad.
She is positive that the association has taken up the preventive work to improve the culture within the sport, but questions what signals it sends that Katja Samsonova is back in the association captain's post.
You see no risk that the former elite gymnasts who testified about misconduct perceive the decision as diminishing what they have experienced?
- It was of course a decision that was not simple.
It was quite serious information that emerged already last autumn.
It set the ball rolling around the whole of rhythmic gymnastics, not just around individual leaders, but around the whole culture, says Pelle Malmborg.
Refers to SVT's review: "Broader problem picture"
In the press release, the gymnastics association writes that "the feature from SVT directed the light towards a broader picture of problems within rhythmic gymnastics".
- I think most people will agree that we have really taken this seriously.
Then there will certainly be those who are disappointed that we do not remove individuals, says Malmborg.
Even in the association where Katja Samsonova is active, she has regained her duties as coach.
- She is back.
We have taken the same decision as the association and followed their recommendations.
But we have also carried out our own investigations in the association to ensure safe sports, says the gymnastics club's chairman to SVT Sport.
Samsonova: "I apologize"
Katja Samsonova has chosen to speak out in the gymnastics association's press release.
She expresses some self-criticism there and believes that she has been open to being reviewed and developed in her leadership.
- I am sorry that there are gymnasts who have had negative experiences and I apologize on behalf of our entire adult collective that we failed to see that there were gymnasts who did not feel well during their career, she says among other things.
Below are previous articles in the review.