Italy fires Olympic female gymnastics coach accused of abuse

By Philippe Leroy Beaulieu

ROME (Reuters) - The dismissal of Italy's Olympic female rhythmic gymnastics coach, who is under investigation for allegations she victimised young gymnasts over their weight and eating habits, drew contrasting reactions among athletes and campaigners on Thursday.

Italy's Gymnastics Federation fired Emanuela Maccarani on Wednesday from the post she held for 29 years, after prosecutors in the northern city of Monza requested that she stand trial over her alleged mistreatment of the gymnasts.

The federation did not mention the abuse allegations in its statement.

The prosecutors opened an investigation into 58-year-old Maccarani after two former gymnasts, Anna Basta and Nina Corradini, accused her in 2022 of psychological abuse when she had coached them.

According to accusations widely reported by Italian media, Maccarani forced the gymnasts - both under 18 at that time - to weigh themselves before teammates, and coaching staff insulted the athletes if they appeared overweight.

Maccarani has denied all wrongdoing.

She told Reuters it was "devastating" to consider the effect her dismissal would have on the rhythmic gymnastics team and she was more concerned about them than her own future.

She said she had received no official notification of the reason for her sacking and she would use her time "to think and to metabolise" recent events and concentrate on her legal case.

Daniela Simonetti, president of the ChangeTheGame, an Italian body that defends victims of sexual, physical and emotional abuse in sport, said Maccarani's departure was "a turning point that opens a new page in the interests of young gymnasts."

ChangeTheGame assisted Basta and Corradini in their case against Maccarani.

Basta told Reuters Maccarani's dismissal should mark the end of training methods "that are antiquated and detrimental to the athletes of the future".

Some athletes and their parents, however, have sided with the former coach.

"We find ourselves after three years in an even more destabilising and detrimental situation for us female athletes and for the sports programming of the team," said Martina Centofanti, a star of the rhythmic gymnastics team.

(Reporting by Philippe Leroy Beaulieu, editing by Gavin Jones)