HSV Weimar commission reports years of sexualized violence

An independent commission has released a final report, titled ‘Breaking the Silence’, regarding years of sexualized and psychological violence at the HSV Weimar gymnastics club. The report focuses on the victims and analyzes how a perpetrator was able to manipulate the entire department and humiliate young girls over several years.

Findings indicate that much of the abusive behavior was publicly visible, yet no one intervened. Commission members noted a culture of ‘blame reversal’ within the club, where children were criticized for behaviors that were actually part of the perpetrator's grooming process. For example, it was reportedly common for young gymnasts to sit on the trainer's lap, a practice for which the children were faulted rather than the instructor.

The abuse occurred between 2007 and 2015. While the Landgericht Erfurt issued a final conviction for 20 cases of sexual abuse in 2023, the commission believes the perpetrator was responsible for significantly more instances than could be proven in court. Following the report's presentation, the Landessportbund Thüringen called for a fundamental cultural shift in organized sports to ensure suspicions of abuse are addressed immediately.