Last month, 1992 Olympic all-around gymnastics gold medalist Tatiana Gutsu said that Vitaly Scherbo, the 1992 Olympic all-around champion, had raped her in 1991. Gutsu was just 15 years old at the time. The story has received widespread coverage in Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus. (Gutsu and Scherbo both competed for the Soviet Union and were from Ukraine and Belarus, respectively.) Most of that media attention has been unfavorable to Gutsu, questioning both the veracity of her claims and why she waited so long to tell her story. That Russian and FSU media would react this way to allegations of rape and sexual violence is not surprising. Foreign Policy reported that the Russian media response to the onslaught of sexual assault and harassment allegations against Harvey Weinstein has been to shame and blame the victims for failing to speak out for years. Gutsu experienced this firsthand when she appeared as a guest on Pyramoy Efir in Russia a couple of days ago. Gutsu, for the first time, described in devastating detail what Scherbo did to her in 1991. She said that after the competition Scherbo came to the room she was sharing with fellow gymnast Tatiana Toropova: That night, when we were already in the hotel, Vitaly Scherbo came to our room with champagne. I don’t know how much I drank and I don’t know how much I smoked [cigarettes] because I was smoking and I was coughing. When I came to [long pause, barely holding tears] it was very dark. It was scarily dark. My hands were held like this [puts hands together as if bound] with such strong force. I was lying on my stomach, my face was slammed into the pillow like this. I don’t know for how long he’s been doing it to me, but when I came to and he realized that I’m conscious, he pressed his hand to my mouth like this [presses her hand to her mouth], so that I wouldn’t be able to say anything. I gathered all my strength, everything I had, to get away, but I couldn’t, I couldn’t, I was trying. I couldn’t even scream. I couldn’t get away, I was trying, I was trying to get away. I came to because everything [in my body] was burning, and because I was hurting and because I was scared and I couldn’t understand what was happening to me. [cries] When he finished what he was doing he only whispered one word“Nikomu” [to no one]. I was lying on my bed. I was just waiting for the door closing shut so that he wouldn’t be there. I ran to the toilet. While I was running, I peed myself. I peed myself because of fear, because of pain. I wasn’t wearing clothes, I was only wearing a top, a t-shirt, I was in socks and a top. I felt sick all night and all morning. Gutsu said that in 2012, she called Scherbo and confronted him about what happened in 1991. Scherbo didn’t exactly respond with remorse and contrition: In 2012, I called him [Scherbo] and I told him, “I know what you did to me.” I expected a different answer to that, I expected, maybe, an apology, I hope for something. But I got an entirely different response, I was told that no one would ever believe me and that I can fuck off. Scherbo has yet to speak publicly about the allegations, but he scarcely needs to defend himself—at least not in Russia or any of the former Soviet states. As Gutsu watched via video from the U.S., one person after another questioned her account and her credibility. Among the skeptics was former Russian/Soviet head teach coach Leonid Arkayev. According to Gymnovosti, Arkayev, who was in charge of the team at the time of the alleged assault, claimed “that he maintained strict discipline on the team and never allowed gymnasts to drink.” But as blogger Luba noted, many Russian gymnasts—not just Gutsu—have spoken about drinking after competitions. Svetlana Khorkina, who, when she isn’t comparing WADA to the Nazis in her memoir, writes about getting drunk after the Olympics in Atlanta when she was just 17. Arkayev has been accused of behaving inappropriately with female gymnasts, too, so he may not be the most credible person to speak on this topic. Also not a credible character witness: Gutsu’s ex-husband who spent 90 days in prison for assaulting her. And yet he was also interviewed on the program. Gutsu took to Facebook shortly after the taping of the program to complain about how she was treated. She asked, “How Andrei Malahov (Pryamoi Efir) can discuss in the studio my story when I did not have anyone representing me?” The only people in the studio who seemed to be supportive of Gutsu were a couple of young women in the audience and one guest, who was a blogger. “The show was doomed from the beginning,” Gutsu wrote. H/t and translation: Gymnovosti
Related Posts
Schalke striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar s agent Arnold Oosterveer believes a switch to Inter would present a great opportunity for his client.
The former AC Milan forward is rumoured to be in talks with Premier League outfits Arsenal and Liverpool, but his representative thinks that Serie A could be a more attractive destination for the 29-year-old.
He would not mind playing in Milan again, especially because Inter would give him the chance to show he is a great player, Oosterveer told Metro.
Before playing for Schalke, Huntelaar struggled to make an impact at Milan, who eventually sold him to the German side during the 2010 summer window for a fee of 14 million euros.
The Netherlands international has appeared 16 times in Bundesliga so far this season, sc…
Carlo Ancelotti is saddened by Chelsea s struggles this season but expects his former side to bounce back under Frank Lampard.
The Real Madrid head coach faces off against the Blues in the Champions League quarter-finals, the first leg taking place at Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday.
While domestic form has not been the best for Madrid, heading into the tie on the back of a 3-2 reverse against Villarreal at the weekend, their form in Europe in recent years has been devastating.
Los Blancos have won the Champions League in five of the last nine seasons, the most recent of which was last year, and boast vast experience.
However, Ancelotti does not believe that will have an impact in the two legs against Chelsea, where he expects the Blues to provide a stern …
Greek champions Olympiakos on Wednesday asked for a court freeze on the assets of their Brazilian former star Rivaldo after he reportedly cast doubt about their recent championship victory and past title wins, the club said.
The motion is designed to secure the payment of damages from a five-million-euro (7.8-million-dollar) defamation suit filed against the player and the chairman of his current club AEK Athens last week.
An injunction application has been filed against Rivaldo, a club spokesperson told AFP.
It asks for the freeze of his property up to the sum of five million euros to cover the compensation demanded by Olympiakos, the spokesperson said.
The injunction will be examined on July 2. The defamation case is slated for a 2009 hearing.
…
Andrea Stramaccioni says that Jose Mourinho will always be part of Inter s history following his spell in charge of the club.
The 50-year-old left the Giuseppe Meazza side for Real Madrid in the summer of 2010 after guiding them to a historic treble.
And Stramaccioni has stressed that the current Madrid coach s performances will always be remembered by the fans.
Jose will always remain embedded in Inter s history, forever remembered and honoured by club and fans alike, just as he deserves, the Inter boss said.
I think the same way myself, because for all of us Interisti, he will still be special in 100 years time.
The Madrid boss turned 50 on Saturday, and Stramaccioni did not pass up on the opportunity to congratulate the Portuguese on his bi…
Dimitri Payet says he is not closing the door to anything when questioned on a possible January exit from West Ham.
The playmaker was an outstanding performer during his first season in England, helping the Hammers to finish seventh and earning a prominent role in France s run to the final of Euro 2016 on home soil.
West Ham have struggled to recapture their best form since moving to London Stadium, failing to qualify for the group stage of the Europa League and winning just three of 11 Premier League matches so far this season.
That has led some observers to suggest Payet could target a switch to a club competing for major honours.
And during an appearance on French television programme Telefoot, the 29-year-old was asked directly if he might leave West …
Argentina boss Jorge Sampaoli denied suggestions he was underestimating Iceland after naming his starting XI for Saturday s World Cup clash in his pre-match press conference.
The former Chile boss read out his team in an unexpected move, but explained he had made up his mind on Wednesday and saw no point in concealing it further.
Marcos Rojo and Maxi Meza were the only question marks, but have been given the nod to start at Spartak Stadium against the Euro 2016 quarter-finalists.
Asked if he had revealed his team early because he did not think Iceland were particularly strong, Sampaoli responded: No, no, no, the reason why we have named our team in advance is because we knew since Wednesday what we wanted to do.
I ve told you today because we have tr…
Cristiano Ronaldo will be in peak condition for the World Cup and Portugal can rest easy about what he will bring at Qatar 2022, says Selecao legend Luis Figo.
Superstar forward Ronaldo has found himself out of the team at Manchester United in recent weeks, following on from a pre-season of uncertainty.
The 37-year-old reportedly wanted to depart Old Trafford just 12 months after returning in order to find a move to a club playing in the Champions League.
A move failed to materialise, though, and Ronaldo s only start this season under new boss Erik ten Hag came in the humiliating 4-0 defeat at Brentford.
That is partly explained by the fact Ronaldo missed much of United s pre-season due to personal reasons, but the Red Devils have chalked up four straigh…
Julian Nagelsmann does not believe RB Leipzig are yet good enough to win the Bundesliga, adding their results against title rivals must improve.
Leipzig lead the table at the mid-season break, but an intense tussle for the championship seems likely, with Borussia Monchengladbach, champions Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and Schalke all within seven points.
Head coach Nagelsmann is certainly not getting carried away, insisting there is still work to do before the team can think about staying top until the end of the campaign and winning a first title.
We have to develop, he told Bild. At the moment, we are not good enough to become champions.
Ready to light up 2020
— RB Leipzig English (@RBLeipzig_EN)
There is one clear are…
Borussia Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke has hit out at the impact of Arab investors in football, seeing the trend as detrimental.
The takeovers of clubs such as Paris Saint-Germain by the Qatar Investment Authority and Dortmund s Champions League quarter-final opponents Malaga by Sheikh Abdullah Al-Thani in 2010 have undoubtedly changed the landscape of European football.
Speaking in an interview with German business daily Handelsblatt, Watzke was clear about opposition to this particular model of club ownership.
It s not fair from a sporting aspect, the 53-year-old German said.
I get the feeling that some sheikhs just look at the flight schedules and chose a pretty metropolis because the connections to there from the Gulf are the best. That s not how…
Barcelona star Lionel Messi insists he is happy at Camp Nou but could be interested in a move to the Premier League in the future.
The 21-year-old is a one of the candidates for the 2009 World Player of the Year award.
The football in England is great, just as it is in Spain, Messi told Uefa s official website.
But for now I m very settled and feel really valued at Barcelona.
I know the Premier League is a great league, but Barcelona is a big part of my life and I m not thinking of anything else.
With time, we ll see. You never know.
Manchester United, Chelsea and Manchester City could all be interested in signing the Argentina international.
[Source: Uefa s official website]
…