Protecting our champions
Improving the safeguarding journey for adult athletes who have experienced sexual harassment or abuse within sport in France
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 24230362 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Mona Lamotte (Loughborough University), Daniel Rhind (Loughborough University) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Pages | 1-16 |
| Publication date | 2026-09-17 |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Culture Sport Society (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1461-0981 • E-ISSN: 1743-0445 |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/17430437.2026.2723465 |
| OpenAlex | W7213443998 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 35 |
Whilst the occurrence of sexual harassment and abuse in sport has been the focus of a growing body of literature, the vast majority of research has focused on children. There is therefore a significant gap in the literature regarding experiences of sexual abuse and harassment of adult athletes in sport. The present study addresses this important gap by examining the perspectives of eight elite athletes who have experienced sexual harassment or abuse in the context of sport in France. Semi-structured interviews were conducted which were grounded in the 5Rs framework (Readiness, Recognition, Reporting, Response, Remedy). Data were analysed using Reflexive Thematic Analysis. The athletes experienced systemic challenges at every stage of the safeguarding journey, including insufficient safeguarding education, minimization or normalization of abuse, unclear reporting pathways, defensive institutional practices, and limited access to meaningful remedies. Participants perceived that sports organisations often prioritize performance, reputation, and financial gain over athlete well-being. This study highlights the urgent need for evidence-informed, athlete-centered policies and practices to protect adult athletes in high-performance sport in France.
adult athletes · athlete well-being · elite sport · France · institutional practices · normalization of abuse · Safeguarding · sexual abuse in sport · sexual harassment in sport · sports organizations · Military, Security, and Education Studies · Physical Education and Sports Studies · Sexual Assault and Victimization Studies
Interpersonal violence against children in sport in the Netherlands and Belgium
Crossing language boundaries
Research and scholarly methods
Methodological rigour within a qualitative framework
Systematic methodological review
Purposeful Sampling for Qualitative Data Collection and Analysis in Mixed Method Implementation Research
Reflexivity in Qualitative Research
Silenced Survivors
Women’s Experiences of Gender-Based Interpersonal Violence in Sport
Situating and Constructing Diversity in Semi-Structured Interviews
Sexual Violence and the Coach–Athlete Relationship—a Scoping Review From Sport Sociological and Sport Psychological Perspectives
Temporal and Developmental Risk Factors for Sexual Harassment and Abuse in Sport
Secrecy Surrounding the Physical Abuse of Child Athletes in Australia
Thematic Analysis
Now I see it, now I don't
The 'Boys' Club', sexual harassment, and discriminatory resourcing
| Highly cited | No |
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