'I can't change the past but I've made athletics safer'

A former Scottish pole vaulting champion who pushed for huge welfare changes across athletics says she's satisfied the sport is now safer after her recommendations were implemented across the UK.

Anna Gordon, from Perth, was shunned by some of her peers after she accused a coach of sexual abuse in 2013.

The coach in question was found not guilty in court but no internal investigation was ever carried out by Scottish Athletics.

Following a wide-ranging review into welfare practices across the UK, the case was investigated by British Athletics who confirmed a life ban for the coach in February and issued apologies to those involved.

Scottish Athletics has also apologised after admitting the organisation failed those who made complaints.

They also withdrew the coach's honorary lifelong membership.

Anna, who went on to become Scottish junior pole vaulting champion, was 16 when she first made the complaint.

"It was a big thing to rock the boat, so when I did rock the boat, it resulted in quite a lot of fallout," she said.

"I would arrive at competitions and be told, you don't deserve to be here – you don't deserve to be an athlete if you're not going to support the coaches."

She was given media training and told never to criticise the sport or Scottish Athletics.

After giving up on the sport, she started a campaign to push for athletes like her to be heard and for improvements in safeguarding.

UK athletics commissioned a report into athlete welfare in 2020 and has now adopted the recommendations put forward by campaigners like Anna.

Among the changes, all affiliated athletics clubs must have a dedicated welfare officer and criminal record checks must now be carried out every three years on those who work closely with children.

Anna Gordon now feels vindicated and wants to move on.

"I never wanted to get involved in welfare - it's not a path I ever thought I'd go down," she said.

"When you're involved in a cause, yes it's important to raise concerns when there are concerns, but it's equally important to come back and say 'yes these have been addressed, yes things are better and yes people are safer now.'

"If I had a child now I would put them into the sport – I wouldn't have said that before."

Scottish Athletics released a statement following the British Athletics investigation.

"Scottish Athletics would like to thank the athletes that came forward in this case for their courage in doing so, both in 2013 and during the UK Athletics investigation in 2023-24.

"Athletics should first and foremost be a safe, enjoyable and open environment for all participants.

"There must be confidence in the raising of concerns where circumstances require and support for those involved.

"We are confident that the above failings could not happen today, partly thanks to affected athletes who have campaigned to promote change in safeguarding protocol."

Anna is now studying to become a sports psychologist and admits the process has taken its toll but she's also pleased to see that the positives have prevailed.

"That's the complex part of it.

"It does feel good that change has been made and appropriate outcomes are now being reached.

"You're never going to take away what happened to me. There's nothing anyone can do to change that.

"You can't change the past but you can change the future and that's what's important here."