Dimitra Kastritsi: "He kicked me in the gym, my ears were killing"

"His statements are very unfortunate and even more unfortunate is his attempt to correct them," former champion Dimitra Kastritsis, who is among the 22 athletes who had complained of physical and verbal violence, said of Lefteris Petrounias. in the letter to the President of the Republic
"On the railings" are athletes of instrumental gymnastics, who complained, last spring, of their abuse by their coaches, after the unfortunate statements of the gold medalist Lefteris Petrounias - and despite the public apology he asked for.

It is recalled that the case has been ordered by the prosecutor for a preliminary examination.

Dimitra Kastritsi, from Thessaloniki, champion of instrumental gymnastics, who is among the 22 former athletes who had proceeded with the complaints and the letter to the President of the Republic, Katerina Sakellaropoulou, speaking to voria.gr, spoke of unfortunate statements of her former athlete. "His statements are very unfortunate and even more unfortunate is his attempt to correct them, because he nullifies the effort of Mrs. Bekatorou and the #metoo movement. "It is unacceptable for anyone to believe that they should expect a child - 6, 7, 8 years old - in the field of sports who is being abused to become an Olympic gold medalist or world champion, in order to be able to come out and complain," said Ms. Kastritsi.

The former champion of instrumental gymnastics clarified that "in no case will we let the effort for cleansing in the field of Greek Gymnastics be wasted with such unfortunate statements by people like Mr. Petrounias with" if, if, if "".

Dimitra Kastritsi - Former Instrumental Champion

Speaking today on the radio station Status 107,7 in Thessaloniki, Ms. Kastritsi revealed that there are many cases of physical, verbal and psychological violence against athletes. "They left us fasting," he said, "and they beat us." "He was pulling me by the hair and kicking me in the gym, my ears were killing," he said, describing an incident at the age of 12, during training for the National team.

"Wood could fall even because an athlete in training did not stretch her arm well," he added.

It is characteristic that Mrs. Kastritsi herself referred to incidents in which she was in front, starring a female coach, while there were other episodes with male coaches, which were conveyed to her by her fellow athletes.

In the meantime, the pre-investigation procedure ordered by the prosecutor regarding the allegations of athletes in the gym for physical, verbal and psychological violence and cases of sexual harassment by coaches has been completed. The intention of the athletes of the instrument is to send all the names that will result from the pre-investigation process to the President of the Republic, the Deputy Minister of Sports, the Hellenic Olympic Committee and the EGO.

protothema.gr