Gymnastics association KNGU is going to investigate after accusations of former gymnast Joy Goedkoop against coaches Vincent Wevers and Gerben Wiersma. Talks will be held with everyone involved next week.
“Only with concrete reports can the bottom stone emerge,” says a press release from the KNGU. “The same applies to an allegation by Joy Goedkoop in the broadcast of Studio Sport to two coaches who are currently employed by the KNGU. The first discussions with those involved will take place this week.”
Former gymnast Goedkoop told Sunday OUR Sport Studio that she was mistreated and humiliated by Wevers at a young age during her career. That would have happened when she trained in Oldenzaal from the age of seven to twelve
“I was beaten and kicked by him,” she said. “Not on a daily basis, although belittling and getting angry did happen every day.” Later she transferred to Heerenveen, where she started training under Wiersma and the physical violence stopped. “But it was also inhumane there, without room for fatigue, injuries and other feelings.”
Wevers works as a bond trainer at the gymnastics association and also the father and coach of the twins Sanne and Lieke Wevers. In 2016, after Sanne won gold in the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, he was voted Coach of the Year at the Sports Gala.
Ball started rolling due to Beltman’s confession
Goedkoop joined Studio Sport on Sunday as a result of a confession that gymnastic coach Gerrit Beltman made on Friday in an interview with the Noord-Hollands Dagblad. Beltman, 64, a trainer of Renske Endel, among others, confessed to abusing gymnasts physically and mentally, and expressed regret.
According to Beltman, he was not alone in writing. One of those persons would still be active within the KNGU. “He is involved in the current Olympic track and has not had to justify himself.”
Earlier this week, the KNGU announced that it would start an investigation into cross-border behavior in gym sport and how to tackle it. The decision was prompted by the reactions to a much-discussed documentary Athlete A about an abuse scandal in the American gymnastics world around team doctor Larry Nassar.
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