IOWA CITY, Iowa (Quanta Report) - The legal battle begins as two gymnasts file lawsuits alleging they suffered sexual abuse at an elite gymnastics academy in Iowa, pointing fingers at USA Gymnastics and the U.S. Center for SafeSport for their inaction against coach Sean Gardner. The plaintiffs assert that despite numerous complaints outlining Gardner's inappropriate interactions with young girls, these oversight bodies failed to take the necessary steps to protect athletes.
The lawsuits detail incidents of “inappropriate and abusive behaviors” reported to the relevant authorities in December 2017, including unwarranted affection and grooming, while Gardner was coaching at a gym in Mississippi before moving to Chow’s Gymnastics and Dance Institute in West Des Moines, Iowa.
Prominent coach Liang “Chow” Qiao, who founded Chow’s Gymnastics, is also named as a defendant in the lawsuits, alongside Gardner and the overseeing organizations. Plaintiffs, identified as former trainees aged 11 and 12 during the alleged abuse, state that their dreams of Olympic competition were marred by the trauma inflicted under Gardner’s coaching.
The suits are a response to systemic failures, highlighting lapses in duty by USA Gymnastics and SafeSport, which were supposed to safeguard young athletes following the infamous Larry Nassar sexual abuse scandal. While Gardner is currently facing federal charges related to child pornography, his previous behavior at Chow's raises serious concerns about oversight protocols within elite sports organizations.
As the lawsuits progress, more allegations are surfacing from other former gymnasts, potentially unveiling a larger pattern of abuse within the gymnastics community. The affected athletes seek restitution for their suffering and to bring accountability to those who overlooked critical warning signs.
