NOW. A FORMER COACH AT CHOW’S GYMNASTICS IS UNDER FEDERAL ARREST BY THE FBI INTO ALLEGED ABUSE OF YOUNG GYMNASTS. THE FBI ARRESTED 38 YEAR OLD SHAWN GARDNER ON CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CHARGES. vlog SENIOR REPORTER TODD MAGEL IS LIVE IN WEST DES MOINES WITH THE ALLEGATIONS. TODD. JODI LAURA, WE ARE JUST OUTSIDE THE CHOW’S GYM HERE IN WEST DES MOINES. YOU KNOW, IT’S A FAMOUS GYM. IT’S KNOWN FOR COACHING FAMOUS OLYMPIC ATHLETES LIKE SHAWN JOHNSON AND GABBY DOUGLAS. I REACHED OUT TO CHOW. THEY DID NOT WANT TO COMMENT. THEY DID NOT RETURN OUR PHONE CALL ABOUT THIS CASE. AND BY THE WAY, THE FORMER COACH IS ACCUSED OF INAPPROPRIATE TOUCHING AT THIS GYM. COURT DOCUMENTS SHOW 38 YEAR-OLD SHAWN GARDNER BEGAN WORKING AT CHOW’S GYMNASTICS IN 2018. HE QUIETLY LEFT THE GYM FOUR YEARS LATER. NOW, THE FBI SAYS HE SEXUALLY ABUSED AT LEAST THREE YOUNG GYMNASTS AT CHOW’S. THEY ALSO SAY HE SECRETLY RECORDED OTHER GIRLS UNDRESSING IN A GYM AT HIS PRIOR JOB IN MISSISSIPPI. THIS TYPE OF STORY IS HEARTBREAKING TO HEAR. PREVENT CHILD ABUSE IOWA BOARD CHAIR AMBER ZYLSTRA SAYS THE INCIDENT IS A CLEAR VIOLATION OF THE TRUST BETWEEN A COACH AND A STUDENT ATHLETE. WEST DES MOINES POLICE SAY THEY SEARCHED GARDNER’S HOME AND FOUND PHOTOS AND VIDEOS ON HIS COMPUTER AND PHONE. IN 2022, A GYMNAST AT CHOW’S REPORTED AN INCIDENT TO THE U.S. CENTER FOR SAFE SPORT, A NATIONAL CLEARINGHOUSE THAT REPORTS COACHES ACCUSED OF ABUSE. SPORTS CULTURE IS CHANGING. PEOPLE KNOW THERE’S A PLACE TO GO. PEOPLE KNOW THERE’S A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN MAKE A REPORT. THE US CENTER FOR SAFE SPORT. AND WE’RE SEEING THE REPORTS GROW EVERY SINGLE YEAR. THE YEAR THAT WE OPENED OUR DOORS, 2017, WE HAD 281 REPORTS. IN 2024, WE HAD 8000 REPORTS. WEST DES MOINES POLICE SUSPENDED THE FIRST INVESTIGATION BECAUSE THE VICTIM DID NOT WANT TO FILE CHARGES. THEN IN 2024, ANOTHER CHILD GYMNAST REPORTED GARDNER AND WEST DES MOINES POLICE CALLED IN THE FBI TO INVESTIGATE. ZYLSTRA SAYS IT’S IMPORTANT TO REPORT ANY UNUSUAL COACH BEHAVIOR WHEN THAT TRUST IS BROKEN. IT’S, YOU KNOW, THE IMPACT IS TRULY DEVASTATING, NOT JUST FOR THE CHILD, BUT ALSO, YOU KNOW, FOR THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY. AND WE SHOULD POINT OUT THAT IF CONVICTED, GARDNER NOW FACES LIFE OR RATHER, 30 YEARS IN PRISON. WE’RE LIVE IN WEST DES MOINES. TO
‘Heartbreaking breach of trust’: Child safety advocates react to arrest of ex-Chow’s coach Sean Gardner
![vlog logo]()
Updated: 5:08 PM CDT Aug 19, 2025
Editorial Standards ⓘ
Child safety advocates are reacting after Sean Gardner, a former coach at Chow's Gymnastics, was arrested by the FBI on child pornography charges following allegations of abuse involving student athletes.Gardner, 38, reportedly began working at Chow's Gymnastics in 2018 and left quietly four years later. The FBI alleges he sexually abused at least three young gymnasts at Chows and secretly recorded other girls undressing at a gym in Mississippi."This type of story is heartbreaking to hear," said Amber Zylstra, board president of Prevent Child Abuse Iowa. She emphasized the violation of trust between a coach and a student-athlete.West Des Moines police searched Gardner's home and found photos and videos on his computer and phone. In 2022, a gymnast at Chow's reported an incident to the U.S. Center for SafeSport, a national clearinghouse for reports of abuse by coaches.Hilary Nemchik, from the U.S. Center for SafeSport, noted the changing sport culture, saying, "People know there's a place to go. People know there's a place where you can make a report. The U.S. Center for SafeSport, and we're seeing the reports grow every single year. The year that we opened our doors, 2017, we had 281 reports. In 2024, we had 8,000 reports."West Des Moines police suspended the first investigation because the victim did not want to file charges. Then in 2024, another Chow gymnast reported Gardner, and West Des Moines police called in the FBI to investigate. Zylstra said it's important to report any unusual coach behavior."When that trust is broken, it's, you know, the impact is truly devastating, not just for the child, but also, you know, for the entire community," Zylstra said.If convicted, Gardner faces up to 30 years in prison.» Subscribe to vlog's YouTube page» Download the free vlog app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play
WEST DES MOINES, Iowa — Child safety advocates are reacting after Sean Gardner, a former coach at Chow's Gymnastics, was arrested by the FBI on child pornography charges following allegations of abuse involving student athletes.
Gardner, 38, reportedly began working at Chow's Gymnastics in 2018 and left quietly four years later. The FBI alleges he sexually abused at least three young gymnasts at Chows and secretly recorded other girls undressing at a gym in Mississippi.
"This type of story is heartbreaking to hear," said Amber Zylstra, board president of Prevent Child Abuse Iowa. She emphasized the violation of trust between a coach and a student-athlete.
West Des Moines police searched Gardner's home and found photos and videos on his computer and phone. In 2022, a gymnast at Chow's reported an incident to the U.S. Center for SafeSport, a national clearinghouse for reports of abuse by coaches.
Hilary Nemchik, from the U.S. Center for SafeSport, noted the changing sport culture, saying, "People know there's a place to go. People know there's a place where you can make a report. The U.S. Center for SafeSport, and we're seeing the reports grow every single year. The year that we opened our doors, 2017, we had 281 reports. In 2024, we had 8,000 reports."
West Des Moines police suspended the first investigation because the victim did not want to file charges. Then in 2024, another Chow gymnast reported Gardner, and West Des Moines police called in the FBI to investigate. Zylstra said it's important to report any unusual coach behavior.
"When that trust is broken, it's, you know, the impact is truly devastating, not just for the child, but also, you know, for the entire community," Zylstra said.
If convicted, Gardner faces up to 30 years in prison.
»
» Download the free vlog app to get updates on the go: |
