Former German gymnast Kim Janas accuses German Gymnastics Federation of bullying
Yasmine Green
Dailysports's expert
Translated by the editors
Former gymnast Kim Janas shared a heartfelt post on her Instagram account, revealing that she faced abuse and bullying from the German Gymnastics Federation during her career.
Now 25, Janas retired from gymnastics in 2016 at the age of 16 after suffering her third ACL tear.
She cited the constant pressure regarding her weight and eating habits, being labeled "fat" and criticized for having a "high" body fat percentage, despite being at 9%, close to the 10% limit. She was told to aim for levels of 4-5%.
“The focus was always on food and weight. From daily weigh-ins to bag checks for sweets—they monitored everything. I still remember jumping on beds before sleep or using plastic wrap to shed a few grams. Out of fear that tomorrow, I’d be insulted and exposed again.”
Since leaving gymnastics, Janas has pursued a career in music and acting. She was also a candidate for the Deutschland sucht den Superstar award in 2022.
