Gymnastics Coach Sentenced to 90 Years for Child Pornography

Sean Gardner, a former youth gymnastics coach, received a 90-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to producing child pornography. US District Judge Kristi Johnson imposed the maximum sentence, ordering Gardner to serve 30 years for each of the three charges. Gardner admitted to recording young female students undressing and using the bathroom at a Mississippi gym.

The FBI arrested the 39-year-old last summer. The charges caused shockwaves in gymnastics, highlighting safety issues similar to the Larry Nassar case, where he assaulted 265 young women over 22 years, including Olympians.

Gardner reportedly placed a hidden camera in a Purvis, Mississippi, gymnastics studio between December 2017 and April 2018. Investigators discovered videos with close-up images of at least 10 minors. These videos emerged during a probe into abuse claims at Chow’s Gymnastics and Dance Institute in Iowa.

Gardner coached top gymnasts at the institute, founded by Liang ‘Chow’ Qiao, who trained Olympic athletes. While Gardner hasn’t faced charges related to Iowa claims, law enforcement awaits federal case outcomes before further action.

Survivors allege USA Gymnastics and the US Center for SafeSport failed to act when informed of Gardner’s misconduct in 2017. Gardner’s suspension in 2022 followed accusations by a gymnast at Chow’s, leading to his termination. SafeSport noted Chow hadn’t reported the abuse allegations.

Gardner, USA Gymnastics, and Chow’s Gymnastics face ongoing lawsuits. Associated Press contributed to this report.