Well, that is interesting. It certainly hasn't been widely advertised that she has taken on a coaching role over here in Australia. Waverley is the club of choice for many aspiring international gymnasts here in Victoria and they have a reputation for bringing in the best coaches and churning out some very good gymnasts, so I also have to say, I'm not surprised that is where she has landed.
To give some context to the situation, it is also important to understand that gymnastics in Australia has been / is going through a very tough phase. Not qualifying a team to Rio (for the first time since the 80s) was like a bullet for the old system. There have been many changes to the program, and it is morphing into something apparently quite similar in structure to your US system. Hardly surprising given that Mihai is now National coach. I know he was flabbergasted that we were still running a system reminiscent of the Chinese programs in the 80s. (which, granted, thrust Australia onto the National stage for the first time) It would seem that a reference from Mihai would be like gold over here. And, i also suspect, that whilst Rhonda Faehn would be a very well known name in the US, in the gymnastics community here (significantly smaller, and much more removed) there would be a large portion of parents, and perhaps even coaches, who might recognize the name as familiar, but not recall the context. In fact, I would have to say, if I was not an avid follower of this forum, it would be unlikely that I would know who she was, such has been the lack of reporting here past the names of Larry Nassar and John Geddert. It's not an excuse, just context.
Additionally, Australian gymnastics is a world leader in terms of Child protection, and the process coaches need to go through to be permitted to coach, or even be in a space with children is strict. That's not to say it's prefect, but it certainly is a leading model. She would have been required to jump through a great many hoops to be even allowed in the gym n the first place.
I guess the question comes down to this : should she ever be given the opportunity to atone for her sins (so to speak). My honest answer is, I don't know. I like to think I am a forgiving and rational person, however I would be lying if i said I wouldn't have any concerns about her working with my athletes ( as a coach ) or my children (as a parent). It could be however, just what she needs to understand the true impact of her actions, and make some serious effort to make ammends. It is also worth noting that Waverley is a staunch supporter of the Bravehearts foundation here in Australia - which is a child protection organisation. Larissa Miller - who was the AUS representative at Rio is a patron of the organisation and has been very forthcoming about her experiences of abuse as a child.
At the end of the day, perhaps I'm like to get splinters from sitting on the fence so much. I don't think there is an easy response to this one. I do fully understand how people in the US would feel slighted at her appointment. I wonder whether there will be any further responses now that it has been made public over here.
Hopefully this has provided some context to the situation - and perhaps why it hasn't caused an uproar here - because it has been kept very quiet.
