Two former students of Chow Gymnastics in West Des Moines, Iowa, have filed civil lawsuits alleging abuse by a former coach.
According to KCCI, the gymnasts are accusing their former coach, Sean Gardner, of sexual abuse, as well as USA Gymnastics and the U.S. Center for SafeSport for failing to protect them.
The lawsuit states that the oversight bodies "turned a blind eye to warnings about his conduct in order to maintain the status quo, in utter dereliction of their legal, moral, and ethical duties to protect minor gymnasts."
"These girls give their whole childhood and their whole adolescence to compete for our country, and they're being treated like garbage by the system that's supposed to protect them," said John Manly, an attorney for the girls.
SafeSport released the following statement on the matter:
"We are grateful to those who come forward with their stories, which allow us to take action to hold individuals accountable. Upon receiving the first report of sexual misconduct against Mr. Gardner in 2022, the Center imposed temporary restrictions followed shortly by a temporary suspension, which removed him from coaching, and was published on our public Centralized Disciplinary Database (CDD). This is the only reason Gardner was barred from coaching young athletes in the years until his arrest."
The amount in damages the girls are suing for was not disclosed, but Manly emphasized that "the money will never make them whole. Money is simply a symbol of the harm done."
Gardner is currently in federal custody in Mississippi on sexual abuse allegations involving gymnastics students.
