Gymnastics Australia recently released its new Body Positive Guidelines, which will "provide the framework for an athlete focussed high performance environment that enables a safe, supportive and respectful culture", according to Gymnastics Australia CEO Kitty Chiller.
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The institution of the new guidelines acknowledges a superficial culture in gymnastics, which has historically seen elite athletes attacked for their appearance.
High-profile American gymnasts like Simone Biles, Katelyn Ohashi and Aly Raisman have spoken about the negative and inappropriate focus on their bodies, and the impact it has on gymnasts, particularly teenage girls.
Goulburn gymnastics teacher Vaughn Edmonds said Gymnastics Australia has "very good standards" on issues like body image.
"There's a lot of training these days for gymnastics coaches on body positivity and being able to provide a safe environment for everyone you teach," Edmonds said.
"Gymnastics Australia is one of the industry leaders in child-safe policies, which is fantastic and something that in the gymnastics world, internationally, is an issue."
Problems with body image have become prevalent in an increasingly online-focused society, and Edmonds said he sees "younger and younger" children becoming concerned with their bodies.
"It's affecting younger and younger kids nowadays," he said.
"Gymnastics is a sport where there is obviously a great aesthetic focus, which we're trying to steer away from to a degree.
"But I get seven and eight-year-olds telling me that they're not going to be able to do it because they're too big to do gymnastics.
"They shouldn't be thinking 'I can't do this sport, I'm too fat', that's horrible."
Chiller said the guidelines were "incredibly important for our sport and show the great importance that we place on the health and well-being of our athletes."
Sports dietitian and director of Body Positive Australia, Fiona Sutherland, said Gymnastics Australia had shown "outstanding leadership" in producing the guidelines.
"GA acknowledges that gymnasts may be a more vulnerable group when it comes to poor body image, for a variety of reasons, and is taking steps to support body positivity across the sport," Sutherland said.
"All athletes, in all bodies, deserve to be treated with respect and this is a powerful way that organisations can take a clear stand."
The guidelines address the risks of developing poor body image, disordered eating, eating disorders, mental health issues and include recommendations on how coaches can address these situations in teaching environments.