IOWA CITY, Iowa — In a significant step towards accountability, two gymnasts filed lawsuits on Monday against USA Gymnastics and the U.S. Center for SafeSport, detailing instances of sexual abuse they allegedly endured under coach Sean Gardner at an elite Iowa academy. The complaints highlight a systemic failure of the organizations to respond adequately to repeated allegations concerning Gardner's behavior.
The lawsuits, lodged in Polk County, Iowa, assert that the watchdog bodies were informed of Gardner's improper conduct—such as hugging and excessive physical contact—back in December 2017, yet failed to take appropriate action to protect young athletes.
Naming prominent figures in the gymnastics community, including Chow’s Gymnastics founder Liang “Chow” Qiao, the lawsuits claim that both USA Gymnastics and SafeSport missed crucial opportunities to intervene, allowing Gardner to be employed at Chow's Gymnastics in 2018, where his alleged abusive behavior continued.
The allegations come in the wake of Gardner's arrest and subsequent federal charges relating to child pornography, igniting scrutiny over the oversight bodies' actions and their responsibilities in safeguarding athletes.
The plaintiffs, now college students, assert they were subjected to emotional and physical abuse, and they seek damages for their trauma. Their attorney indicates that several more lawsuits may follow as further victims come forward.
USA Gymnastics has released a statement recognizing the gravity of the allegations but has refrained from further comments, while SafeSport noted it had not been officially served with the lawsuit.
