Gymnastics Coach Sean Gardner Arrested After Large Amount of Child Pornography Found at His Home

The gymnastics community is reeling from the recent arrest of Sean Gardner, a former coach at Chow’s Gymnastics and Dance Institute in West Des Moines, Iowa, on federal child pornography charges. The 38-year-old, who was once celebrated for his role at an elite academy known for training Olympic champions like Shawn Johnson and Gabby Douglas, faces allegations that have sent shockwaves through the sport. Gardner’s arrest follows a years-long investigation into accusations of sexual abuse and the discovery of illicit materials, including videos and images allegedly recorded with a hidden camera at a Mississippi gym where he previously worked.

Allegations of Abuse and Misconduct at Chow’s Gymnastics

Sean Gardner joined Chow’s Gymnastics and Dance Institute in September 2018, a prestigious facility renowned for producing Olympic gold medalists. Hired by owner Liang “Chow” Qiao, Gardner was entrusted with coaching some of the academy’s most promising young gymnasts and was later promoted to director of the Chow’s Winter Classic, an annual event attracting over 1,000 athletes. However, court records reveal a disturbing pattern of behavior that began shortly after his arrival in Iowa.

In March 2022, a gymnast reported to the U.S. Center for SafeSport, a nonprofit established to address abuse in Olympic sports, that Sean Gardner had engaged in inappropriate conduct. According to an FBI affidavit, the gymnast alleged that Gardner used “inappropriate spotting techniques,” placing his hands between her legs and touching her inappropriately during training sessions from 2018 to 2020. She further claimed that Gardner asked gymnasts about their sexual activity and used derogatory language, including terms like “idiots, sluts, and whores.”

The gymnast provided the names of six other potential victims, indicating the scope of the alleged misconduct. A second report surfaced in August 2022, with another gymnast accusing Gardner of similar inappropriate touching during workouts and physical abuse, including an incident where he allegedly dragged her across a carpet, causing burns to her buttocks. These allegations prompted SafeSport to suspend Gardner in July 2022, barring him from contact with gymnasts.

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Despite these reports, the initial criminal investigation stalled when the victims declined to pursue charges, a common challenge in abuse cases due to the emotional and social pressures victims face, particularly in high-profile settings like Chow’s. The case remained dormant until April 2024, when another former student, now 18, came forward with further allegations.

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She described Gardner as initially presenting himself as a “father figure” who offered support during her parents’ divorce. However, she alleged that he fondled her during exercises, discussed his personal sex life, and instructed her to perform stretches that exposed her body inappropriately, which she suspected he filmed with his cellphone. These reports, combined with earlier accusations, reignited the investigation, leading to a critical breakthrough.

Discovery of Illicit Materials and Federal Charges

In late May 2025, West Des Moines police executed a search warrant at Gardner’s home, uncovering a trove of incriminating evidence. Investigators seized a cellphone, laptop, desktop computer, and handwritten notes exchanged between Gardner and his former students.

Among the findings were approximately 50 video files and 400 photos, including images of girls aged 6 to 14, many of whom were nude, using the restroom, or changing into leotards. These materials were allegedly recorded using a hidden camera in a bathroom at Jump’In Gymnastics and Tumbling in Purvis, Mississippi, where Gardner coached from 2014 to 2018 before moving to Iowa.

The FBI affidavit also detailed a video showing Gardner entering the bathroom and turning off the camera, suggesting his direct involvement in setting up the recording device. Additional images depicted an adult woman, identified as Gardner’s ex-girlfriend, entering and exiting a bathtub, further indicating the scope of his alleged surveillance activities.

The discovery of these materials led to Gardner’s arrest on August 15, 2025, in Des Moines, where he faced federal charges of producing visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct, an offense that carries a potential sentence of up to 30 years in prison.

Gardner is currently detained at the Polk County Jail in Iowa, awaiting transfer to the Southern District of Mississippi to face the charges. The FBI has stated that Gardner “primarily targeted children” at gyms in Iowa, Mississippi, and Athletes in Motion in Prairieville, Louisiana, where he worked from 2004 to 2014. The agency is actively seeking additional victims and encourages anyone with information to contact investigators through a secure online tip form.

Implications for Gymnastics and SafeSport’s Role

The arrest of Sean Gardner has reignited discussions about the effectiveness of abuse prevention measures in youth sports, particularly in gymnastics, which is still recovering from the Larry Nassar scandal that exposed systemic failures in protecting athletes. The U.S. Center for SafeSport, established in 2017 in response to Nassar’s crimes, has faced scrutiny for its handling of cases like Gardner’s.

Critics, including attorney Steve Silvey, argue that SafeSport’s processes are slow and opaque, often leaving the public unaware of allegations for years while investigations unfold. Gardner’s case exemplifies this, as he remained unsanctioned for over three years after the initial reports, during which time he secured employment as a surgical technologist at an Iowa hospital in 2024.

SafeSport defends its temporary suspensions as a critical tool to protect athletes while investigations proceed, emphasizing its role as a mandatory reporter to law enforcement. However, the organization’s reliance on victims to pursue criminal charges can hinder progress, as seen in Gardner’s case, where the initial investigation stalled due to victims’ reluctance to engage with police. Ken Lang, a retired detective and professor of criminal justice, noted that victims may hesitate to come forward in prestigious programs like Chow’s, fearing damage to their reputations or aspirations in gymnastics.

Chow’s Gymnastics issued a letter to parents and families on August 20, 2025, addressing Gardner’s arrest. The letter stated that Gardner passed a criminal background check through the USA Gymnastics Center for Safety Initiatives when hired in 2018. Upon receiving SafeSport’s notice of temporary restrictions, Chow’s complied by limiting Gardner’s contact with athletes and ultimately terminated him in July 2022 when the suspension was enacted. The institute emphasized its commitment to athlete safety and strict enforcement of protection policies but acknowledged the emotional impact of the news on its community.

The case also raises questions about oversight in hiring and monitoring coaches across state lines. Gardner’s alleged misconduct spanned multiple gyms in Iowa, Mississippi, and Louisiana over nearly two decades, highlighting the need for more robust systems to track and share information about coaches’ histories. The FBI’s involvement, prompted by the discovery of materials from Gardner’s time in Mississippi, underscores the importance of inter-agency coordination in addressing such crimes.

The gymnastics community now faces the challenge of rebuilding trust in an environment where allegations of abuse continue to surface. Child safety advocates, such as Amber Zylstra of Prevent Child Abuse Iowa, emphasize the devastating impact of broken trust on young athletes and their communities. The case serves as a stark reminder of the vigilance required to protect vulnerable athletes and the need for reforms to ensure swift and transparent action against perpetrators.

Sean Gardner’s arrest is a sobering moment for gymnastics, a sport that has long grappled with ensuring the safety of its young athletes. As the legal process unfolds, the focus remains on supporting victims and strengthening safeguards to prevent future abuses. The courage of the gymnasts who came forward has been pivotal in bringing these allegations to light, and their actions may inspire others to seek justice, reinforcing the importance of creating a safe and supportive environment for all athletes.