Abuse & Toxic Culture in Gymnastics w/ Melanie Hunt

Social Work Me

On Ep 32 Michele McPherson takes over the hosting duties. You may recognize her from our first ever guest on Ep 1 and again on Ep 14 where she discussed the use of EMDR and Yoga. As a Social Worker, Yoga Instructor and program head of a Mental Performance Program-Michele is taking over the podcast to do a mini series on connecting with athletes, coaches, and health professionals to talk about the highs and lows of performing at the elite level in sports.
Her first interview is special as she has known the guest for some time-
“I did gymnastics for a brief period when I was younger and Melanie Hunt (formerly Rocca) is an immensely talented gymnast you couldn’t help but aspire to want to be like.
Melanie was born and raised in Sarnia and started gymnastics at age 4. She was the provincial all around champion at age 9. Represented Canada at first international competition at age 10. A Junior National team member at age 12. Melanie represented Canada at multiple international competitions, including the Pacific Alliance Championships. Melanie left the sport at age 19. In our conversation Melanie and I dive deep into her experiences of trauma at the hands of her coaches and how
that has impacted her during and after her time in the sport.”
The release of this episode coincides with the release of TSN’s documentary- Broken: Inside the Toxic Culture of Canadian Gymnastics which features our guest Melanie Hunt.
On this episode we discuss:

• Her athlete career
• Experience as a child gymnast versus adolescent gymnast
• Her identity as an athlete
• Experiences of emotional, psychological, physical, and sexual abuse from her coach
• Fight, flight, freeze, fawn as trauma responses
• Learning to give herself permission in her own life/experiences
• Advice to current gymnasts and athletes
• Life beyond the sport
• Current work with Gymnasts For Change to bring light to the abuse and injustices experienced in the sport of gymnastics
• TSN full-length documentary titled Broken: Inside the Toxic Culture of Canadian Gymnastics
  Links:
  
  Gymnasts for Change (Canada):
  https://www.gymnasts4changecanada.com
  Impact Statement by Melanie Hunt (Rocca):
  https://www.gymnasts4changecanada.com/blog/impact-statement-by-melanie-hunt-rocca
  Support Athletes' call for Independent Review of GymCan Leadership + Sport Culture
  Link to former/present gymnast letter: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScK_cMTyOqaliViZo1yrNUyGeE7n5_o1M3Q-KvYwdM4hhH8kQ/viewformfbclid=IwAR1eNANTIbYOFFhzTp4Uk3_BJBaG07BOdAYV-7grTQ0tQhxxU3P4ZFbCOYg
  Link to Ally Support:
  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/15Pa5pdt-bw8qAeTh8e5JNugHHU1ZW3oH-
  OUUA19NJls/viewform?pli=1&edit_requested=true&fbclid=IwAR1pJjAuk5pGJdEnzsJS-
  etQ1Hl0KAj_ANZP7C73MzfMpHFfHxXTUjIa1hw
  TSN Full-length Documentary: Broken: Inside the Toxic Culture of Canadian Gymnastics
  @TSNSports, co-production with @CTVW5 & @CraveCanada
  Debuts November 5, 2022 on CraveCanada and November 12 on @CTVW5
  Open Letter to Sport Minister:
  https://www.cbc.ca/sports/olympics/summer/gymnastics/gymnasts-for-change-open-letter-1.6629786