Demand Investigation into Penn State Women's Gymnastics & Athletics

As a former gymnast, I know how debilitating this type of "coaching" is.

Former college gymnast.

Penn State does not need another scandal. Investigate this and be open about it. Put the student athletes first !

10 years ago Featured

Penn State is supposed to be better than what these coaches have done to their athletes. Speaking as a father and alumni (class of 1986), I am disappointed in the administration. The time to take action is now. People are more important than NCAA titles.

Penn State should be ashamed it allowed this to continue

Class of 2000 Alumni

I am an alum of PSU and I am so ashamed of this athletic bully culture. Penn State is not changing quickly enough to prevent more damage to students.

Please reopen this investigation. I endlessly pray that it is highly considered and further investigated. I was a NCAA Division I Big 10 Gymnast. This type of abuse and behavior should never be tolerated or swept under the rug. Being an athlete for a Big 10 University is a privilege. All athletes and students should be cared for graciously supporting their emotional, mental, physical health and well being. I will be (among thousands of others) ashamed and entirely disheartened if action is not taken appropriately for this case. Penn State is not the only school where athletes or gymnasts are being treated abusively. If you find any ounce of kindness and remorse in your hearts - please reconsider and do the right thing for these women - if you do not - it could potential cost a life.

I am so sad that these young girls were emotionally and physically abused by this couple. They should never be able to do this again to anybody. The level of cruelty and the manipulation are unbelievable

Sounds like Penn State has repeatedly come up blindly to investigative issues when it comes to sports related misconduct. I can only hope Karma takes a big bite out of them when their turn comes around!

These coaches should never be allowed near gymnastics anything if this is how they behave. PSU seems to enjoy protecting abusers. This shouldn't just be investigated, but changed.

Gymnastics is a sport that women/men should enjoy and be passionate about. Body-shaming is horrible. They will carry this with them for the rest of their lives. The women who stood up for themselves and what they believe in should be incredibly proud of themselves.

Sadly this all too common with highly competitive sports. As a former competitive gymnast and coach, changes needed to be made, required professional/athlete education needs to take place and parents need to talk to their gymnasts about what behaviors are and are not appropriate. Improved standards are needed at the Junior Olympic level on up. Congrats to the PSU girls that have had the courage to stand up for themselves. We are proud of you.

Penn State should not ignore this issue and support their coach when so many girls have come forward. But again Penn State likes to hide and deny their problems. Reputation is going down says many

As a former Penn State student and Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, I am appalled at these allegations against these coaches. If true, I am ashamed of my alma mater. These kids, student athletes, work brutally hard and deserve the best of care from all members of the university staff, most especially their coaches. When you start putting the stats ahead of the student, you no longer deserve that student or that team, nor belong in an environment of young people. If these allegations are true , fire them both ASAP, and start protecting these kids and preventing this shameful behavior. First pedophile football coaches, now abusive gymnastic coaches - please Penn State, make it stop ! I used to be so proud of you.

No person should have to go through this.

Sounds like the coaches need to go. Penn State has enough adversity already. Just too many complaints not to act on it.

Class of PSU Class of '60. Seems like the team should be called the Thompson's GymnasticsTeam. They seem to want to "hire" professionals that will mke "them" famous. My life at PSU was the greatest.I learned in the classroom, I learned all over the campus, it was a FULL experience. I look at this situation with the Thompson's who don't even care about a college experience outside the gym.

Absolutely appalled and stunned that PSU would allow the Thompsons to continue coaching given their obvious lack of character, ethics and common sense. When zero seniors remain on the team there is an obvious problem. Do you really feel comfortable declaring that you have found no evidence of abuse or ethical violations. Really? You must not have looked too hard because surely there is a large number of tragic experiences at the hands of these two monsters to be shared by a multitude of women. Shame on you PSU. Protecting children and fostering a physically and emotionally safe environment for your athletes should be alongside academics, your to priority. You are just as culpable as the Thompsons are. The personal accounts by these women is absolutely sad and shocking.

I read about the thompsons online. no one should treat girls or anyone the way they have treated penn state gymnast. those girls deserve justice for all the pain they were put through.