Just as U.S. gymnastics was beginning to recover from the devastating Larry Nassar abuse scandal, another case has shaken the sport.
What was supposed to be a fresh start at one of the nation’s most prestigious training academies has now turned into yet another nightmare.
In 2018, a young coach named Sean Gardner moved from Mississippi to Iowa, joining Chow’s Gymnastics and Dance Institute—a facility famous for training Olympic champions like Shawn Johnson and Gabby Douglas.
The gym’s legendary owner, Liang “Chow” Qiao, trusted Gardner enough to give him big responsibilities, including overseeing top junior athletes and directing a premier youth competition.
But just four years later, Gardner was suddenly gone, and the truth about why has only now come to light.
SafeSport Suspension and FBI Arrest
In July 2022, the U.S. Center for SafeSport suspended Gardner, placing him on its banned list after serious allegations surfaced.
While the reasons were initially kept quiet, court documents later revealed disturbing claims—Gardner allegedly sexually abused young gymnasts, used inappropriate coaching techniques, and secretly recorded girls undressing in gym bathrooms.
Last week, Gardner, now 38, was arrested by the FBI on federal child pornography charges.
Authorities believe he targeted children at gyms in Iowa, Mississippi, and Louisiana, where he had coached for nearly a decade before moving north.
The FBI says they are still working to identify additional victims.
Survivors Speak Out
According to an FBI affidavit, multiple girls described disturbing encounters with Gardner during his time at Chow’s.
One gymnast reported in 2022 that he used inappropriate spotting techniques and touched her in ways that amounted to sexual assault.
She also recalled him asking intrusive questions about sex and calling girls degrading names.
Another gymnast said Gardner dragged her across the floor so hard it burned her skin, while others suspected he used his phone to film them during exercises.
In one particularly troubling detail, a former student told police that Gardner befriended her when she was just 11 years old, grooming her with social media contact and “father figure” support—only to later abuse that trust.
How the Case Fell Through the Cracks
Despite multiple reports to SafeSport and the police, the investigation stalled for years.
Some parents and athletes were hesitant to file formal complaints, fearing the stigma attached to speaking out against a prestigious gym.
Police suspended the investigation when few victims wanted to press charges, leaving Gardner free to move on with his life.
Astonishingly, by 2024—two years after his suspension—Gardner managed to get a job at an Iowa hospital as a surgical technologist, working directly with patients.
It wasn’t until West Des Moines police executed a search warrant at his home in May that investigators uncovered a trove of disturbing images and videos of nude girls, many taken from a hidden bathroom camera.
A Pattern Across States
The FBI investigation also revealed Gardner’s history at other gyms.
Before Iowa, he worked at Jump’In Gymnastics in Mississippi, where more hidden recordings appear to have been taken.
And before that, he spent a decade coaching at Athletes in Motion in Louisiana.
Authorities now fear his misconduct could stretch back nearly 20 years.
Investigators say the seized evidence included more than 400 photos and 50 videos, some showing explicit abuse of minors.
Disturbingly, one video allegedly captured Gardner himself entering the bathroom to tamper with the hidden camera.
SafeSport Under Fire Again
This case has once again highlighted the failures of SafeSport, the watchdog body created in the wake of the Nassar scandal.
Critics say the organization is slow, opaque, and leaves the public in the dark for years while investigations drag on.
Attorney Steve Silvey, a longtime SafeSport critic, put it bluntly: “From an outward operational view, it seems that if SafeSport is involved in any way, the situation turns glow-in-the-dark toxic.”
While SafeSport insists its temporary suspensions protect athletes, its limitations are clear.
It can ban coaches from working in sports, but those sanctions don’t prevent offenders like Gardner from finding jobs elsewhere—such as in health care.
USA Gymnastics Responds
USA Gymnastics President Li Li Leung admitted that SafeSport’s role is “tough and difficult to navigate,” calling for more consistency, transparency, and faster resolution of cases.
The organization remains under scrutiny for whether it’s doing enough to protect athletes from abusive figures.
A Legacy Gym Rocked by Scandal
Chow’s Gymnastics has long been seen as a beacon of excellence, attracting families from across the country to Iowa in pursuit of Olympic dreams.
Now, its reputation is shadowed by the disturbing actions of one of its trusted coaches.
For Gardner, the consequences are beginning to catch up. He is currently being held at Polk County Jail in Des Moines and faces up to 30 years in prison if convicted of producing child pornography.
His case will also move to Mississippi, where some of the charges originated.
Lives Left in Limbo
For the survivors, the trauma lingers. Many are still deciding whether to come forward publicly, while others may never want their names tied to the scandal.
Critics say this case exposes a broken system where predators can hide in plain sight for years, even after red flags are raised.
As attorney Silvey put it: “SafeSport is now part of a larger problem rather than a solution… The most fundamental professional task such as coordination with local or federal law enforcement gets botched daily.”
The question now is whether this case will finally push SafeSport and USA Gymnastics to make real reforms—or if it will become another tragic entry in a long list of failures to protect young athletes.
