Ex-coach at top Iowa gymnastics academy, Sean Gardner, arrested on child pornography charges years after he was first accused of sexual abuse
A former coach at a prestigious Iowa youth gymnastics academy, famous for producing top Olympians, has been arrested for possessing a significant amount of child pornography. Sean Gardner, 38, was taken into custody by the FBI after a raid on his home uncovered hundreds of images of children. This arrest comes years after Gardner was accused of sexually assaulting multiple young athletes.
It is believed that Gardner primarily targeted children at gyms in Iowa, Mississippi, and Louisiana, where he worked for a decade until 2014. The FBI stated that Gardner’s inappropriate conduct with gymnasts at Chow’s Gymnastics and Dance Institute in West Des Moines led to his arrest.
Chow’s Gymnastics and Dance Institute is renowned for training Olympic gold medalists like Shawn Johnson and Gabby Douglas in 2008 and 2012. Gardner’s arrest has brought shock and dismay to the gymnastics community.
The investigation into Gardner’s actions began in March 2022 when a gymnast reported his misconduct at Chow’s to the US Center for SafeSport. The gymnast, who was a minor at the time, detailed how Gardner would touch female gymnasts inappropriately, ask them personal questions, and use sexually degrading language towards them.
Despite the initial report, it wasn’t until April 2024 that a second victim came forward with new allegations against Gardner. This victim claimed that Gardner had touched her inappropriately, made her perform inappropriate exercises, and discussed his sex life with her.
Following these reports, Gardner was suspended from Chow’s Gymnastics and Dance Institute. However, it wasn’t until May 2024 that law enforcement obtained a warrant to search his home. During the search, they found numerous videos and images of girls, ages 6 to 14, in compromising positions. Handwritten notes between Gardner and his former students were also discovered.
Athletes in Motion, the Louisiana gym where Gardner previously worked, has been notified of the allegations and is cooperating with investigators. Gardner, who had secured a job as a surgical technologist at a local medical center, has since been terminated from his position.
Gardner is currently detained at the Polk County Jail and faces charges of producing visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct. He is expected to be transported to Mississippi to face additional charges. The FBI is urging any other potential victims to come forward.
If found guilty, Gardner could face up to 30 years in prison. The gymnastics community is reeling from these shocking revelations, and authorities are working diligently to ensure justice is served.
