Singapore figure skater Jessica Shuran Yu speaks out about ‘systemic abuse’ by coaches in China
- Inspired by Netflix film ‘Athlete A’, the 19-year-old details violence and verbal abuse that led to an eating disorder
- ‘I realise it’s not just a Chinese cultural thing but a toxicity that plagues aesthetic sports like gymnastics and figure skating,’ she says
Singaporean figure skater Jessica Shuran Yu, who was born, raised and trained in China, has spoken out about the verbal, mental and physical abuse she received from coaches.
In an Instagram post on Wednesday, which was timed with an interview with The Guardian where she described her treatment as “dehumanising”, Yu shared her experience.
The essay across six images, which detailed her time in China, was captioned: “My story, in response to Athlete A and Gymnast Alliance. TRIGGER WARNING: abuse, eating disorder.”
Released last month, Athlete A is the Netflix film that tells the story of US gymnast Maggie Nichols, who first reported sexual abuse by team doctor Larry Nassar that was covered up by US Gymnastics.
Many other gymnasts, including several members of their Olympic teams, came forward to report their own experience of sexual abuse by Nassar, who was jailed in 2018, and of systemic mental and physical abuse in the sport. Athletes in other federations have followed suit.