Coach Gets 90 Years for Secretly Recording Young Gymnasts
Former Mississippi gymnastics coach sentenced to 90 years for secretly filming minors. Case sparks questions about athlete safety.
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A former youth gymnastics coach who secretly recorded young female athletes undressing and using the bathroom has been sentenced to 90 years in prison. Sean Gardner, 39, received the maximum penalty after pleading guilty to three federal child pornography charges, according to U.S. District Judge Kristi Johnson. The sentence effectively means a life sentence for Gardner, who was arrested last summer and is now facing a conviction that has reignited questions about the protection of gymnasts from abuse by influential coaches.
Hidden Camera and Illegal Videos
Gardner placed a hidden camera in a bathroom at a gymnastics studio in Purvis, Mississippi, between December 2017 and April 2018, according to investigators. The camera captured close-up images of at least 10 minors naked or undressing, which were discovered years later during an investigation into allegations of sexual abuse by Gardner in Iowa.
Abuse Allegations and Institutional Failures
Several former students at Chow’s Gymnastics and Dance Institute in West Des Moines, Iowa, have alleged that Gardner used his position to prey on them. The institute was founded by prominent coach Liang “Chow” Qiao, known for producing Olympic champions. Investigators seized approximately 50 videos and 400 photos from Gardner’s home as evidence, with one video showing him turning off the camera.
Normalized Abuse and Legal Battles
One of Gardner’s former students, Liberty Raines, described the abuse as normalized, recalling how she and others would receive hugs and pats on the back from Gardner at the end of practice. She said, “It was so normalized. I don’t think any of us thought anything of it.”
Broader Implications and Ongoing Legal Issues
The case has raised concerns about the failure of U.S. gymnastics authorities to protect athletes from abuse. Lawyers for some of the women involved claim that USA Gymnastics and the U.S. Center for SafeSport were informed of Gardner’s inappropriate behavior in 2017 but did not take action to remove him from the sport for years. SafeSport temporarily suspended Gardner in 2022 after a Chow’s gymnast alleged sexual abuse, and Chow’s fired him shortly after.
Several lawsuits remain pending against Gardner, USA Gymnastics, and Chow’s Gymnastics, while the FBI continues its investigation into the matter.
Source: Breitbart
