Mental health has been an important concept for the ever-evolving humankind with every passing day. With the increasing burden of competition and climbing the ladder, the concern takes center stage within all fields. However, with the recent controversy surrounding the sporting community and more specifically, gymnastics, the concern has shed a pressing focus on the environment of athletes.

Following Kara Eaker’s retirement and voice against the training tactics used, the University of Utah presented measures to acknowledge the situation. The timeliness of the decision and the situation as a whole invites a discussion on the sports organizations and the leadership exuded in prioritizing a safe and supportive environment for the athletes.

Kara’s Eaker’s retirement from gymnastics

21-year-old Kara Eaker was a promising name in the gymnastics industry with her growing list of accolades. The youngster as an 18-year-old stood entitled to the 2018 Pan Am and 2019 Pan Am Games Balance Beam Champion. The feat was further followed by her accomplishment as an alternative for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. However, despite a path well set, Kara announced her retirement from the sport on the 20th of October.

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“For two years, while training with the Utah Gymnastics Team, I was a victim of verbal and emotional abuse. As a result, my physical, mental, and emotional health has rapidly declined,” Kara wrote in her announcement letter. She also stated that the training strategies used were harsh to be tagged  “condescending, sarcastic, and manipulative tactics”. The practice further pushed the gymnast to take the matters to the university authorities. But sadly, the administration “completely dismissed” her report. Following the details of the situation and the entailed negligence, an audience drove up for defense; quite possibly prompting a response from the University a month later.

The University of Utah announces action against gymnastics coach

On the 21st of November, the former gymnastics star’s school released a statement on the measures put forth; after a month of Kara’s retirement and another student’s complaint on the same. The release stated that Coach Tom Farden and the University had decided to part ways ‘effective immediately’ while Coach Carly Dockendorf took on the position.

“The past several months have been an extremely challenging time for our gymnastics program,” Director of Athletics Mark Harlan’s remark read. “Changes like this are never easy and only come after extensive analysis and discussion. In this case, the decision provides necessary clarity and stability for our student-athletes and prevents further distraction from their upcoming season.” In the end, Harlan also ensured to acknowledge Tom’s contribution to the program and the key role he played without exactly touching upon the persisting case.

The mental health safety and problems entailing

Though Kara Eaker was the first one to speak on the abuse faced, she sure wasn’t the only one to experience it. Kim Tessan, a senior gymnast on the Utah gymnastics team resonated with Kara as she spoke up. The youngster stated that she was promised a ‘caring, family-type environment with an understanding coach.’ However, that did not turn out to be the case. Tessan reportedly faced excessive criticism pushing her to live in fear and anxiety. A similar situation was experienced by gymnast Bailey Ferrer who faced the extremities of body-shaming by her coach. The stance put forth thus provides us a glimpse into the reality of situations backstage.

Video: Days After Kara Eaker’s Untimely Retirement America Muses Over the Star’s Mesmerizing Skill

A study by UPMC states that student-athletes are more likely to burn out, sustain injuries, and experience a serious mental health crisis without help. The conditions pose a serious threat to the career and continuation of the athletes. The scenario currently presented stands as a strong testament to the same. Furthermore, The Post reports that dozens of NCAA gymnastics spoke up on the unsafe environment created by the coaches which eventually led to their mental health degradation.

San José State, Penn State, and LSU are some of the Universities that have witnessed the extremities of emotional abuse on the NCAA athletes. The repercussions have been delivered in the form of the primary case. Farden’s alleged actions, followed by the University’s blind eye, not only pushed Kara toward retirement but also the unkind suffering she went through. The case thus poses the question of timeliness, need for administration, and safety regulations.

Safe Sport regulations

Safe sport is defined as a place where athletes can train and compete in a healthy, supportive, respectful, and equitable environment; free of harassment and abuse. To follow the same, the Safe Sport Code is designed to prohibit abuse and misconduct affecting the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movement. Keeping up with the intent, the organization has curated a list of what constitutes abuse. The 2023 Safe Sport Code document among the rest, states that a Participant violates the Code by:

• Repeatedly and excessively verbally assaulting or attacking someone personally in a manner that serves no productive training under emotional abuse.
• Ridiculing, taunting, name-calling, or intimidating under verbal abuse.
• causes fear, humiliation, or annoyance, and offends or degrades under harassment.

Going by the basis of the Code, the authorities in the organization investigated the Tom Farden matter. A follow-up report stated that Farden “did not engage in any severe, pervasive or egregious acts of emotional or verbal abuse.” Nor did he “engage in any acts of physical abuse, emotional abuse or harassment as defined by SafeSport Code.”  

The contrasting insights between the athletes and the authorities highlight the complexities of the industry. Nonetheless, an acknowledgment of athletes’ voices and fairer investigations is the crucial aspect of addressing concerns of emotional abuse in sports. However, one mustn’t forget the basis of it all; the safety and reporting mechanisms to be set in place.

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