Amy Tinkler reveals early retirement was down to UK gymnastics’ culture, not injury

Twenty-year-old is latest elite or former elite GB gymnast to criticise sport’s culture as bullying and abusive

Amy Tinkler was Team GB's youngest medal-winner at the 2016 Rio Olympics (Getty Images)

Amy Tinkler has revealed she felt she was left with no option but to quit gymnastics less than four years after becoming Great Britain’s youngest medallist at the Rio 2016 Olympics.

Tinkler, now 20, says her “experiences as a club and elite gymnast”, and the subsequent failure of governing body British Gymnastics to act on her complaint, led her to announce her retirement in January.

She is the latest elite or former elite GB gymnast to criticise the culture of the sport as bullying and abusive following the statement issued by the Downie sisters, Becky and Ellie, late last week.

It had been widely assumed that Tinkler, who won her medal in Rio at the age of just 16, had retired due to injury after undergoing three ankle surgeries in the wake of her Olympic success.

But she said in a statement: “I submitted a formal complaint to British Gymnastics in December 2019.

“It was an account of my experiences as a club and elite gymnast, and the experiences I shared were the reason for my retirement in January, not a physical injury as was suggested by some at the time.

“My complaint was submitted in accordance with the British Gymnastics complaints policy by a legal team from Irwin Mitchell LLP. After eight months, I’m no closer to having any feedback or outcome.”

Tinkler endured an acrimonious departure from her club shortly after returning from Brazil, and moved to South Essex, a club against whom she has no complaints.

She added: “It took a lot of support and counselling to build up the courage to tell my story.

“I would like to thank Scott [Hann] and the team at South Essex Gymnastics Club for everything they did for me, without their help I would never have had the strength to begin this journey.”

Gymnasts from all ages and levels of the sport have gone public to reveal instances of bullying and abuse that have prompted British Gymnastics to launch an independent review.

Becky Downie and sister Ellie spoke out about the culture of UK gymnastics (Getty Images) (Getty)

In a joint statement released via their respective social media channels, the Downies described instances of historic bullying, including a focus on weight that Ellie Downie said had “left deep scars which will never be healed”.

Reacting to the continuing revelations, Tinkler added: “I’m heart broken by the stories that have been told over the past week.

“I’m so proud of my fellow gymnasts who have shared their stories, I know how hard it is, and your bravery has been a shining light and inspiration in dark and troubling times for the sport we love.”

British Gymnastics confirmed receipt of Tinkler’s complaint and disputed the allegation that it had not responded.

British Gymnastics said in a statement: “British Gymnastics received formal notification of a complaint from Amy Tinkler in December 2019 and she provided full details of this complaint to us on 10th March 2020 which then allowed the investigation to proceed.

“It is at an advanced stage and we have kept Amy Tinkler fully informed and provided her with the appropriate support and we will continue to do so. We can make no further comment at this stage in the process.”

PA