Athens, Greece – Greek police have arrested a former Olympic gymnast. This follows her alleged involvement in a widespread phone scam network run by a Rome-based gang, police reports revealed this morning. These developments come years after she emerged as one of the most prominent voices denouncing abuse and physical violence within the world of gymnastics.
From Olympic glory… to the dock
The gymnast, a star of the early 2000s, attracted attention with her skill and impressive balance on the bar. She participated in the 2004 Athens Olympics at the age of sixteen. She then made a strong impression in Beijing in 2008, winning a prestigious European medal on the balance beam.
But her athletic career was later derailed by a major scandal in 2021. At that time, she appeared among a group of athletes who revealed they had been subjected to abuse and physical and psychological violence at the hands of coaches. She recounted harrowing details of the pressure, physical punishments, and insults that were part of their daily lives in gyms.
She was arrested as part of a network of 44 people.
Police announced that the former athlete was among 44 suspects arrested in a large-scale operation. The operation targeted a telephone scam ring that defrauded victims of sums ranging from hundreds to thousands of euros.
The investigation has so far identified 1,089 cases of fraud. The network’s total illicit gains amounted to at least €7.6 million, and initial evidence suggests that the former gymnast played a supporting role in money laundering operations, while her brother was an active member of the organization.
The arrest of a former Olympic gymnast in a case of this magnitude has sparked a wave of reactions in Greece. This is because her name has previously been associated with calls for reforms in the sports sector and for protecting children from violence within training.
Investigations are still ongoing to determine the extent of her involvement and the role her brother played within the organization. There is also the question of whether other individuals from the sports world are connected to the case.
