Tkachev Me If You Can

gymnast favs: katya lobaznyuk (russia)

We (gymnastics community on this hellsite) have been talking about this for almost two years now and barely anyone has picked up on it. I actually can’t believe that stupid post I once made about writing x amount of words on my thesis in one day has WAY more notes than this when this is infinitely more important so I’m gonna be a manipulative little shit and say;

REBLOG TO SHOW YOU CARE ABOUT ABUSE SURVIVORS. PLEASE, REBLOG TO BRING ATTENTION TO THIS CASE SO IT CAN NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN AND SO ALL THE PERPETRATORS ARE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. That’s all we need. We need attention on it so they can’t slip through the justice system unnoticed. That’s all. So in spreading this information you are doing your part. 

“so what i did to all of you was not intended as sexual, the fact i had a collection of child porn and all of you were minors when i abused you is a mere coincidence”

I love these girls and I love this sport so much. I am so proud of everyone who has come forward, and of everyone who is now living their best life, happy and strong.

Mattie Larson asking all the right questions during Nassar’s sentencing.

“An adult’s blind trust should NEVER trump believing a child. It is far easier to repair the reputation of a falsely accused adult than fix a damaged child”

Why I am angry about the Nassar case.

First and foremost, I would like to salute the children, young ladies, and adult women and all who have come forward and pushed on to get Nassar exposed. I am so, so very sorry for all that you have been through. You are the bravest of the brave. You are all survivors! Thanks to you all, this monster will no longer be able to abuse anyone else. You are true heroes!!!

What makes me extremely angry are all those who have let this happen. All who have not taken these children at their words. All who have failed to protect them over and over and over again, even after all the accusations.

I want to tell you that this is not common in the world of gymnastics.

I want to tell you that athletes are always top priority of their national governing bodies and that they are treated as equals.

I want to tell you that their voices are heard and their words count.

I want to tell you that these young athletes, these children are treated like the treasures they are.

I want to tell you that they are cared for and protected and looked after by their federations.

But I can’t…

This pedophile was able to get away with his crime for so long, because the claims against him were not taken seriously. Those, who enabled him, who took his words over the children’s, those who stood with him and dismissed the athletes deserve to be prosecuted along with him.

As long as our governing bodies’ top priority is to make money off of these athletes, things will not change. Federations should be there to work for, to look after and to protect the athletes and not the other way around.

My hope is that this case will start a real dialogue where athletes’ voices will finally be heard.

IT IS TIME FOR CHANGE.

Very hard to watch, but these women are so strong.