IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Two gymnasts who say they were sexually abused at an elite academy in Iowa filed lawsuits Monday against the sport’s oversight bodies, alleging they failed to stop Sean Gardner from preying on girls despite repeated complaints about the coach’s behavior.
The lawsuits allege USA Gymnastics and the U.S. Center for SafeSport were informed of “inappropriate and abusive behaviors” in December 2017, including reports of Gardner hugging and kissing girls, as well as other grooming behaviors, while coaching at a Mississippi gym.
The organizations allegedly failed to investigate thoroughly, did not revoke Gardner’s coaching credentials, and did not report him to law enforcement, which enabled him to get a coaching position at Chow’s Gymnastics and Dance Institute in West Des Moines, Iowa, in 2018. There, the gymnasts assert they, along with other young females, were abused despite further complaints about Gardner.
The institute, established by renowned coach Liang “Chow” Qiao, known for nurturing Olympic champions, is also named as a defendant in the lawsuits.
Lawsuits Mark New Phase Following Gardner’s Arrest
The legal actions, initiated in Polk County, Iowa, represent the first civil cases tied to an abuse scandal exposed through a series of reports by The Associated Press after the FBI arrested Gardner in August. The plaintiffs contend that USA Gymnastics and SafeSport, an organization created by Congress to investigate misconduct in Olympic sports following the Larry Nassar scandal, failed to act decisively to prevent such abuse.
SafeSport, when questioned about the lawsuits, noted that it had not yet been served and generally does not comment on ongoing litigation. However, it emphasized that Gardner’s temporary suspension in 2022 was documented in its database and served as the sole basis for barring him from coaching until his arrest.
Responding to earlier inquiries about the allegations, SafeSport reported that coaches at Chow's were aware of the claims but did not report them as mandated, asserting that an earlier report in 2018 concerning Gardner did not involve sexual misconduct.
Federal Charges and Allegations
USA Gymnastics spokesperson Jill Geer acknowledged the seriousness of the situation but refrained from further comments. Gardner faces federal child pornography charges for allegedly installing hidden cameras in a gym bathroom to record minors and has entered a plea of not guilty.
The plaintiffs, now college students, were 11 and 12 years old when they trained under Gardner, who allegedly subjected them to extensive abuse until they left the gym. This includes claims of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse. They seek unspecified damages for the treatment expenses they incurred due to the alleged abuse.
The lawsuits assert negligence on behalf of all defendants for their responses to reports about Gardner's misconduct. Multiple complaints about Gardner's inappropriate behavior, including excessive hugging and alcohol consumption in front of young gymnasts, were reported before his hiring.
As this situation continues to develop, additional lawsuits from other former gymnasts are anticipated.
