Olympic Champion Wasteneys: Environment Safer Than Ever Before

In the wake of emotional testimonies and the acknowledgment of a safe-sport crisis in Canada, significant changes have been made to protect athletes from abuse and maltreatment as they prepare for the Paris Games. The issue came to the forefront after athletes shared harrowing experiences of mental, verbal, physical, and sexual abuse on Parliament Hill, highlighting a long-standing problem within Canada’s high-performance sport system.

The outcry from athletes led to two parliamentary committees holding safe-sport hearings. Despite these efforts, calls for a national inquiry continue as the Future of Sport in Canada Commission prepares to further investigate these issues.

Sports Minister Carla Qualtrough acknowledges the progress but emphasizes the need for continued effort.

“There’s so much more work to be done, but I’d say it is safer,” she stated. “The culture shift that we’ve all been calling for and working toward hasn’t happened yet. There’s more of a collective understanding that it’s needed.”

As the 2024 Olympic Games approach, starting with the opening ceremony on Friday and preliminary competitions on Wednesday, some Canadian athletes report positive changes in their environments.

Olympic champion rower Avalon Wasteneys, who faced an abusive coach in the past, describes a significant improvement in support and safety. “This quadrennial, I’ve had a lot of health concerns. I’ve felt far more supported than I ever have,” she said. “I just feel a lot more safe in the environment, all the way from the support staff and our coaches, all the way down to the athletes themselves.”

Despite these improvements, some athletes believe more proactive measures are needed. Rugby player Olivia Apps criticizes the current system for being “more reactive than proactive” and calls for national sports organizations (NSOs) to implement long-term protective measures. “Systemically, with NSOs, I don’t think there’s a lot in place right now to effectively and sustainably protect athletes in a long-term kind of way,” Apps commented.

The upcoming Paris Games, with the Olympics starting on July 26 and the Paralympics running from August 28 to September 8, will be a critical test for Canada’s reformed sport system. The changes made so far aim to ensure that athletes can compete in a safer and more supportive environment.

As Canadian athletes head to the Paris Games, the ongoing reforms in the high-performance sport system show promise, but there is still much work to be done. The focus on creating a safe and supportive environment is crucial for the well-being of athletes, and continued efforts will be necessary to achieve lasting change.