Gymnastics coach Jeb Silsbury was fired from Melbourne club after texting teenage athlete

A gymnastics coach who quit the Australian Olympic team after the ABC revealed he allegedly harassed a former colleague is now accused of making sexual comments to former teenage athletes, including giving their bottoms a nickname.

The allegations against Jeb Silsbury, who is currently training an Olympian at Cheltenham Youth Club in Melbourne’s south-eastern suburbs, stem from his time as a coach at the MLC Gymnastics Club, which is affiliated with the Methodist Ladies’ College – a prestigious girls’ school in Melbourne. Melbourne.

An ABC investigation has uncovered allegations from two former MLC gymnasts, one of whom claimed Mr Silsbury’s behavior “continued for years” and involved sexually explicit comments.

The allegations were reported to the school and Mr Silsbury was dismissed.

Mr. Silsbury did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

Alleged inappropriate comments make girl feel ’embarrassed’

A former gymnast, now 29, said that when Mr Silsbury arrived at MLC Gymnastics in 2008, he was friendly.

She said that when the team traveled abroad for international competitions, he would deliver chocolates to the athletes’ rooms or buy them gifts such as T-shirts or treats at the airport.

But she claimed that as time went on, Mr Silsbury’s comments became increasingly inappropriate.

She recalled that Silsbury is said to have described some gymnastic skills as “the best orgasm ever” or “like good sex.”

The gymnast said some strength exercises, such as hip thrusts, also attracted sexually explicit comments.

“He always said, ‘just pretend that so-and-so is on top of you,’” she claimed.

“I never did that exercise when he was around because I was so ashamed.”

Gymnast claims coach made comments about her body

The gymnast claimed that Silsbury sometimes commented on his athletes’ bodies, including hers, even going so far as to nickname their body parts.

“I remember him telling me I had a rounder butt than everyone else,” she said.

“How are you supposed to react? So we just laughed hysterically about it and then that became a coping mechanism.”

She said the incident had a lasting impact on her.

“For years afterward, I wore very long and baggy T-shirts because I was so ashamed,” she said.

“I was young and I wanted to do gymnastics, but I just ignored it.

“I think I turned a blind eye to a lot of what he did.”

Another gymnast, who is now 28, alleged Silsbury also made sexual comments while coaching her.

“He made some inappropriate comments, like for example… the Rihanna song that S&M once played… he just said ‘sex smells funky,'” she said.

“I just think it’s strange that he said that to a group of underage girls… he was our coach, that’s inappropriate considering the professional role he should have played.”

She said Mr Silsbury allegedly ogled her on other occasions.

“You’re wearing a leotard, there’s not much coverage,” she said.

“I would always feel very uncomfortable.”

Mother recalls ‘nauseous feeling’ after daughter shares accusations

Coaches are expected to adhere to Gymnastics Australia’s Member Protection Policy, which sets guidelines for conduct within the sport.

Coaches are told to avoid language that is inappropriate or “profane or sexual.”

Things came to a head for the now 29-year-old in 2012, when she told her adult sister that Mr Silsbury had texted her.

She said the texts were friendly but set off alarm bells for her family members.

Her sister recalled the conversation to the ABC.

“I don’t think she fully understood what was going on, like the seriousness of it,” the nurse said.

“At first I think she didn’t want to share how many texts she received.

“I think she felt conflicted, I don’t think she knew how to deal with it.

“I felt like she felt a little bit trapped.”

At the encouragement of her sister, the gymnast told her mother about Mr. Silsbury’s alleged behavior while they were on their way to training.

“You have this sick feeling, you know… like you don’t want that information in your head,” her mother recalled.

“I felt like, ‘I have to tell someone,’” she said.

The employment was terminated after the parents expressed their concerns

The gymnast’s mother approached Mr Silsbury’s boss, Michelle De Highden, head coach and high performance manager of the MLC Gymnastics Club, and a meeting was planned at the school.

The gymnast recalled Ms De Highden taking notes during the meet as she sat with her mother.

“It looked like her heart was sinking, she looked sad,” the gymnast said.

“She hugged me at one point and said it wasn’t my fault.”

Ms De Highden now works at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS), which is administered by the Australian Sports Commission.

A spokesperson for the committee said Ms De Highden reported the alleged concerns about Mr Silsbury to MLC’s human resources department.

“MLC Gymnastics Club has subsequently made the decision to terminate Mr Silsbury’s employment,” a spokesperson said.

“The stories athletes are sharing are concerning and there is no place for this type of behavior in Australian sport.

“Ms De Highden was approached informally by Mr Silsbury’s next employer and she did not recommend him for a job.”

Current principal of the Methodist Ladies’ College, Julia Shea, who was away from the school during that period, confirmed that “any issue was promptly assessed and addressed” during Mr Silsbury’s time at MLC.

“Following an investigation, appropriate action was taken in accordance with our policies and standards at the time,” the director said.

“We can assure you that MLC’s decision-making at the relevant time was at all times guided by prevailing mandatory reporting and child safety practices in place at the time,” she said.

The 29-year-old former gymnast said she later found out Mr Silsbury had taken a job at Waverley Gymnastics, which she said caused her anxiety.

“I think Gymnastics Australia has a lot of say and I don’t think I would ever let my child participate in gymnastics if it continues like this because I can’t trust the coaches and the way they treat their gymnasts,” she says. said.

Gymnastics Australia says allegations are ‘concerning’

In July, Silsbury withdrew from the Olympics, the day before the national team was due to fly to Paris, after the ABC alerted the Australian Olympic Committee to a former colleague’s allegations of inappropriate conduct.

An ABC investigation found Gymnastics Australia was aware of a serious complaint of inappropriate behavior against Mr Silsbury before he was selected for the Australian Olympic team.

The ABC now understands that Gymnastics Australia had previously restricted Mr Silsbury’s involvement in national camps due to concerns about his past behaviour.

Gymnastics Australia said the allegations against Mr Silsbury were “concerning”.

“Any inappropriate behavior is unacceptable and has no place in our sport,” a spokeswoman said.

“We encourage anyone with concerns to make a formal complaint or report through Sport Integrity Australia.

“Every coach and judge registered with Gymnastics Australia is required to undertake mandatory annual safety training and adhere to our National Codes of Conduct.

“Any behavior or action that appears to conflict with our standards, policies or procedures is taken seriously and will be addressed.”

The ABC understands Gymnastics Australia will not investigate the allegations against Mr Silsbury, who is free to continue coaching, because no formal complaint has been made against him.