MONTREAL — Hayleigh Abbott and her parents claim she was kicked out of an elite figure skating program after speaking out about being bullied by another student.
“I feel really upset because I thought I could go somewhere in skating and I pretty much didn’t think I would stop because of someone bullying me,” said Hayleigh.
At just 12-years-old, she’s already Quebec Section “B” juvenile (under 14) provincial champion.
“I came in first for the long program so I was pretty proud of that,” she told Global News, while showing off her pile of medals.
The 12-year-old had a promising future as a figure skater until her coach allegedly kicked her out of the program after she reported repeated bullying by an older male student.
“He would pass her on the ice and he would just swear at her and just call her names,” said Cynthia Ruffino, Hayleigh’s mother.
According to Hayleigh, the verbal insults quickly escalated to physical intimidation.
“He would cut me off right before I would jump and he would speed at me really quickly and almost hit me. When I would fall he would just charge at me.” said Hayleigh.
Her parents began to fear for her safety but despite several complaints to the coach, Hayleigh’s family insists nothing was done.
“Her coach Eric Therrien told me this boy had an anger management problem,” said Ruffino.
“He had done it to two other children and he asked me to let him handle it and that was at the end of June.”
By September 1st, Hayleigh didn’t want to skate anymore.
Her parents say the formerly bubbly child started to lay in bed all day.
“It was heartbreaking,” said Ruffino, who finally met face to face with the coach in early September.
The next morning, Hayleigh’s parents were told she was expelled from the CPA Deux Rives figure skating club and could no longer be a part of the elite skating program at École secondaire Des Sources.
“He was no longer able to teach my daughter, she was no longer welcome to skate at sports-étude and she was no longer able to skate at that club” said Ruffino.
Her parents are baffled at the decision, and outraged about the message it sends to other victims of bullying.
“I don’t understand it. It’s not right, the bullying of a 15-year-old man against an 11-year-old child is unacceptable,” said Neil Abbott, Hayleigh’s father.
“The action of coach Eric Therrien to punish a victim of bullying is outrageous.”
Global News tracked down the coach in question, at the 4 Glaces skating rink in Pierrefonds.
Eric Therrien won Skate Canada’s Competitive Coach Award of Excellence in 2009.
“We have no comment on the subject” said Therrien after he was asked about what happened to Hayleigh Abbott.
But Therrien will eventually have to explain his actions.
Skate Canada has launched a full investigation and a spokesperson insists they are taking the complaint very seriously.
While our request for an interview was denied, a statement released to Global News reads:
“Skate Canada strongly condemns bullying, will not tolerate bullying by any of its members and is committed to raising awareness of this issue and preventing and eliminating bullying behaviour within Skate Canada.
A complaint was registered to Skate Canada’s Complaint Review Officer at the national office and an investigation regarding a situation at Club de Patinage des Deux-Rives is currently ongoing.
Skate Canada takes all complaints seriously to ensure that all Skate Canada clubs foster an environment that allows everyone to feel safe and welcomed.”
The Marguerite-Bourgeoys school board is also investigating and plans to meet with the club and coach in the coming days.
In the meantime, Hayleigh has been training with the school’s cheer-leading team, but it’s clearly not her first choice.
She was all set to compete in this weekend’s tournament, but had to pull out of the competition since she no longer has a coach.
Nevertheless, she’s not quite ready to give up on her dream sport just yet.
“If they could have stopped it and I could have still skated I would because it meant the world to me,” she said.
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