Arrest of Former Gymnastics Coach Amid Child Pornography Charges
The former coach of the renowned Iowa Youth Gymnastics Academy, notable for its Olympic athletes, has been arrested for possessing child pornography, just years after facing accusations of sexually assaulting young gymnasts.
Sean Gardner, 38, was taken into custody by the FBI following a raid on his residence. Authorities uncovered child pornographic material and a trove of images involving minors during their investigation into his inappropriate contacts with gymnastics and dance studios in the West Des Moines area.
According to the FBI, Gardner was specifically targeted for offenses at various gyms in Iowa, Mississippi, and Louisiana, where he worked for a decade before 2014.
Chow’s Gymnastics and Dance Institute, where he coached, previously trained Olympic gold medalists Sean Johnson and Gabby Douglas.
For years, investigators have suspected a pattern among certain coaches in gymnastics, raising alarm over such cases.
The West Des Moines police initiated an investigation into Gardner in March 2022 after a report from an Iowa gymnast was filed with the U.S. Safe Sports Center, which monitors sexual abuse allegations in Olympic sports.
The victim, a minor at that time, claimed that Gardner touched her inappropriately while assisting her with her routines and posed intrusive personal questions, including ones about her sexual activity.
Four months later, in July 2022, the SAFESPORT database indicated that Gardner had been suspended due to allegations of fraudulent conduct.
Following his suspension, Gardner was barred from Butterfly’s Gymnastics and Dance Institute.
Interestingly, the first victim delayed further reporting until a second gymnast came forward with new accusations in April 2024.
This second victim, who started lessons with Gardner at around 11 or 12 years old, considered him a “father figure” and reported that he had repeatedly touched her during training, took inappropriate videos, and discussed his sexual life with her.
About 16 months after the first report, police obtained a search warrant for Gardner’s home.
In May 2024, law enforcement seized electronic devices which contained videos and images of girls aged 6 to 14, some of which were explicit.
A search also revealed a handwritten note exchanged between Gardner and a former student.
Athletes in Motion, a Louisiana gym where Gardner was employed from 2004 to 2014, has been notified of these allegations and is cooperating with investigators.
Following his suspension, Gardner found work as a surgical technician at a medical center in Des Moines, but a hospital representative confirmed he is no longer employed there.
Now in custody at Polk County Jail, Gardner appeared at a preliminary hearing, facing charges related to creating visual representations of minors engaged in sexually explicit activities.
He is expected to be extradited to Mississippi to face additional charges. The FBI is also working to identify other potential victims in this case.
If convicted, Gardner could face up to 30 years in prison.
