Rome, 17 August (LaPresse) – FGI President Andrea Facci, who was present at the Arena Zagreb to support the gymnasts after having backed the Italian team competing at the Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships in Frankfurt, wished to reiterate, once the event had concluded, his clear stance on the comments and judgements that had been made in the days leading up to the start of the European Championships – particularly on social media – against Manila Esposito and her physique: “I believe the time has come to address the disgraceful incidents of body shaming that have appeared in recent days beneath some of our social media posts. I waited until the end of the European Championships in Zagreb so as not to distract our athletes, in an effort to protect them from external influences. First and foremost, I believe that today there is far too much licence granted to the notorious ‘keyboard warriors’, who never take responsibility for their behaviour – behaviour that is often detrimental to people’s dignity, sometimes even that of minors, and in our case, of athletes who fly the flag for Italy on the world stage. What’s more, this happens precisely when they are giving their all, during a continental competition. In future, we will need to work out how to stop these haters who do not realise the harm they are causing to very young girls. I send my warmest regards to Manila, who is an extraordinary gymnast, a police officer and an Olympian, and I know she will brush off comments that speak for themselves. We, as the Gymnastics Federation – and indeed the whole of Italian sport in general – have a duty to make it clear that by 2026 there will be no place for those who think they can judge other people’s physical appearance: on the contrary, everyone has the right to feel good about their own body, including through training. And this can only be decided by the athlete themselves, together with their coach and all the medical and health professionals within the federation. In light of all this, Manila Esposito’s medals are therefore worth double today.”
Artistic gymnastics: body shaming directed at Manila Esposito. The president of the FGI: ‘Put a stop to the haters’
Rome, 17 August (LaPresse) – FGI President Andrea Facci, who was present at the Arena Zagreb to support the gymnasts after having backed the Italian team competing at the Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships in Frankfurt, wished to reiterate, once the event had concluded, his clear stance on the comments and judgements that had been made in the days leading up to the start of the European Championships – particularly on social media – against Manila Esposito and her physique: “I believe the time has come to address the disgraceful incidents of body shaming that have appeared in recent days beneath some of our social media posts. I waited until the end of the European Championships in Zagreb so as not to distract our athletes, in an effort to protect them from external influences. First and foremost, I believe that today there is far too much licence granted to the notorious ‘keyboard warriors’, who never take responsibility for their behaviour – behaviour that is often detrimental to people’s dignity, sometimes even that of minors, and in our case, of athletes who fly the flag for Italy on the world stage. What’s more, this happens precisely when they are giving their all, during a continental competition. In future, we will need to work out how to stop these haters who do not realise the harm they are causing to very young girls. I send my warmest regards to Manila, who is an extraordinary gymnast, a police officer and an Olympian, and I know she will brush off comments that speak for themselves. We, as the Gymnastics Federation – and indeed the whole of Italian sport in general – have a duty to make it clear that by 2026 there will be no place for those who think they can judge other people’s physical appearance: on the contrary, everyone has the right to feel good about their own body, including through training. And this can only be decided by the athlete themselves, together with their coach and all the medical and health professionals within the federation. In light of all this, Manila Esposito’s medals are therefore worth double today.”