The gymnastics community in the U.S. is reeling again after Sean Gardner, a former coach at a top Iowa gym, was arrested on serious charges of child pornography. Gardner, 38, worked at Chow’s Gymnastics and Dance Institute in West Des Moines, a gym known for training Olympic champions like Shawn Johnson and Gabby Douglas. Authorities say Gardner targeted young gymnasts in multiple states and secretly filmed some in private moments at gyms where he worked.
Gardner moved to Iowa in 2018 and quickly rose to a leading coaching role at Chow’s, where he ran the club’s top junior event and coached promising girls. He portrayed the gym as a family and said coaching there was his dream job. But reports of misconduct followed, and by mid-2022, USA Gymnastics’ SafeSport group suspended him after several girls accused him of inappropriate touching and abusive behavior. These allegations included Gardner fondling girls during workouts and using disturbing language toward them.
Police in West Des Moines initially struggled to move the case forward because some victims were hesitant to press charges. The investigation stalled despite Gardner facing other legal troubles, such as probation for repeated drunk driving. In April 2024, another former gymnast came forward with fresh claims of abuse, prompting the case to reopen. A search in May uncovered a trove of photos and videos on Gardner’s devices, including images of nude children and secret recordings from gym bathrooms.
The FBI arrested Gardner last week on federal child pornography charges. Court records show he also worked earlier at gyms in Mississippi and Louisiana, where he allegedly abused his position to harm young athletes. The FBI is still looking for other possible victims.
This case raises questions about how SafeSport handles abuse allegations. The organization can ban coaches from sports, but that doesn’t stop them from working outside athletics, as Gardner was able to find a job in health care after being suspended. Critics say SafeSport’s investigations take too long and lack transparency, while the organization says it balances careful inquiries with protecting athletes.
Chow’s Gymnastics has not publicly responded to the allegations. Meanwhile, the victims and families affected by Gardner’s misconduct continue to wait for justice. The situation highlights ongoing challenges in keeping youth sports safe and holding abusers accountable.