Judge Criticizes Gymnastics Reform Progress
Rosemary Aquilina calls for systemic changes to athlete safety as activists demand reforms.
Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Gymnastics
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Judge Rosemary Aquilina declared that gymnastics organizations have failed to implement sufficient reforms to protect athletes from abuse. This criticism comes as survivors and activists gathered in Rotterdam to demand systemic changes within governing sports bodies.
Why it matters
Governing bodies continue to prioritize medals and revenue over child safety, while rigid internal hierarchies hinder the implementation of essential protections. Resistance to change remains a persistent barrier to ensuring athletes are safeguarded from systemic harm.
Judge Rosemary Aquilina sentenced Larry Nassar to 175 years in prison in 2018 following a case involving more than 250 abuse victims. The court proceedings included 169 victim impact statements.
The players
Rosemary Aquilina
She is the judge who sentenced Larry Nassar to 175 years in prison following his guilty plea for abusing numerous women and girls.
Larry Nassar
He was a physician who abused more than 250 women and girls under the guise of medical treatment.
Eloise Jotischky
She is a survivor who won a civil case against British Gymnastics regarding abuse she experienced while competing.
Gymnasts for Change International
This is an advocacy group formed by survivors and activists to campaign for systemic reform within the sport of gymnastics.
The details
Activists with Gymnasts for Change International are pushing for specific safeguards, including a ban on weighing gymnasts and stricter cross-border coaching regulations. Despite efforts from organizations to introduce whistleblower protocols, critics argue that foundational issues within the sport remain unaddressed.
Timeline
2016-2018: Eloise Jotischky experienced abuse while competing in gymnastics.
2018: Judge Aquilina sentenced Larry Nassar to 175 years in prison.
October 2026: Judge Aquilina criticized the lack of reforms at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships.
Season Trajectory
This ongoing pressure from activists and legal figures marks a departure from the historical culture of silence in elite sports. It forces governing bodies to confront whether current safety measures are substantive enough to prevent the systemic abuse patterns identified in the 2018 Larry Nassar sentencing.
The continued pressure for reform directly impacts how governing bodies implement mandatory safety regulations for minor and elite athletes. This oversight creates a specific environment where organizations must now verify compliance with new whistleblower and athlete protection policies.
The takeaway
The struggle for reform in gymnastics highlights that legal convictions are often only the first step in addressing institutional failures. Athletes and their families should continue to monitor the specific implementation of whistleblower and safety policies within their local clubs.
Further reading
Learn more about the evolving landscape of athlete welfare in the Gymnastics section.
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