The British Elite Athletes Association (BEAA) will continue to support athletes leaving British Gymnastics’ World Class Programme after it renewed its agreement with the National Governing Body for the LA Olympic cycle.
Under the terms of the arrangement, every gymnast moving on from the World Class Programme will be invited to provide feedback on their time on the programme in an experience capture session facilitated by the BEAA.
The service, which was introduced in 2023, is designed to strengthen the athlete’s voice. It provides gymnasts with the opportunity to share honest feedback with an independent body in the BEAA, helping British Gymnastics’ performance programme understand what is working and what can be improved.
Sessions are delivered by the BEAA’s Athlete Support Team and discuss topics such as programme culture and the performance environment.
The BEAA gathers feedback from athletes and, with their consent, shares it with David Hart, British Gymnastics’ Performance Director. He is committed to providing a response within three months, ensuring that every athlete’s experience is heard and acknowledged.
This process is athlete-led. Individuals can choose to submit their feedback anonymously and decide whether they wish to receive the Performance Director’s response directly or through the BEAA.
BEAA CEO, Kelly Sotherton MBE, said: “Creating opportunities for athlete feedback to be heard by decision-makers is central to our work, so we are delighted to extend this agreement with British Gymnastics.
“Leaving the World Class Programme is a significant moment in any athlete’s journey and it’s vital they feel supported and respected as they take their next steps. These sessions do just that, providing gymnasts with a genuine voice and an independent setting to share openly.
“We are pleased British Gymnastics recognises the value of this process and we look forward to continuing our work with their World Class Programme during the LA cycle.”
David Hart, Performance Director at British Gymnastics, added: “The value of honest, open, and constructive feedback is significant in shaping the future of our sport, and this athlete-led process has been instrumental in supporting decision-making within our programmes.
“Creating the most inspiring and supportive environment for gymnasts to perform and thrive is at the heart of everything we do. We want all athletes to value and enjoy their time in the sport and for this experience to continue to benefit them throughout their lives.
“Our plan is focused on ensuring that experiences of gymnastics at all levels are positive, inclusive, and enriching. Within the high-performance space, we take a strategic approach to the world-class programme built on collective accountability.
“Working in partnership with gymnasts, alongside personal and national coaches and expert sports science practitioners, is key to delivering this vision. Our relationship with the British Elite Athletes Association (BEAA) is a vital part of this collaborative approach.”
