The world of American gymnastics, still reeling from the aftershocks of past abuse scandals, is once again under a harsh spotlight. This time, the story centers on Finley Weldon, an 18-year-old gymnast whose brave decision to come forward about her former coach’s abuse has led to a sweeping FBI investigation and renewed scrutiny of how the sport protects its most vulnerable athletes.
Weldon, preparing to begin her collegiate career with the Iowa State University Cyclones, has become a symbol of resilience and determination. In an exclusive interview, she described the pride she feels in staying in the sport when so many of her peers, scarred by similar experiences, have left gymnastics behind. "None of the girls that I started with or went through the things that I did with Sean are still doing gymnastics today. So that’s something I’m very proud of," Weldon told The Associated Press. Her decision to speak out, she said, was driven by a desire to protect others: "I felt like I needed to speak out to stop it from happening to other little girls, so they didn’t have to go through what I went through. I knew it would just be a continuous cycle if nobody did."
The coach at the center of the investigation, Sean Gardner, was once a rising star in the gymnastics world. Hired in September 2018 by Chow’s Gymnastics and Dance Institute in West Des Moines, Iowa—an academy famous for producing Olympic gold medalists Shawn Johnson and Gabby Douglas—Gardner quickly moved up the ranks. He was soon promoted to direct the gym’s prestigious Winter Classic, a meet attracting over 1,000 competitors, and was entrusted with coaching some of the club’s most promising athletes. In a 2019 interview with WOI-TV, Gardner expressed his excitement about working under Liang “Chow” Qiao, saying, "This is the job that I’ve always wanted. Chow is really someone I have looked up to since I’ve been coaching."
But beneath the surface, a much darker story was unfolding. Weldon began training at Chow’s in 2015 after her family relocated to Iowa. By the time Gardner joined the staff, she was 11 years old and, like many young athletes, looking for guidance and support. Gardner, she recalled, positioned himself as a father figure, telling her she could confide in him about anything. It was a calculated move, Weldon now realizes, designed to gain her trust and manipulate her during a vulnerable period marked by her parents’ divorce.
The abuse, Weldon says, began in 2019 with long hugs and inappropriate touching during private lessons. It escalated over time, with Gardner allegedly requiring her to stretch in positions that exposed her and eventually touching her in ways that crossed every boundary of trust and safety. "I didn’t want him to take away anything from me, especially something that I love," Weldon said, reflecting on her decision to continue in gymnastics even after the trauma. She also described her breaking point: after a 2021 training session where Gardner yelled and threw shoes at her, insisting she’d never reach the elite level, Weldon decided to walk away from his coaching for good.
Weldon’s experience was not isolated. In March 2022, another gymnast reported Gardner’s misconduct to the U.S. Center for SafeSport, a watchdog organization created in the wake of the Larry Nassar scandal. According to an FBI affidavit, that athlete accused Gardner of using "inappropriate spotting techniques" and provided the names of six other potential victims. SafeSport responded by suspending Gardner from coaching or having contact with gymnasts in July 2022. However, the criminal investigation initially stalled when the first accuser declined to press charges, leading West Des Moines Police to close the case at that time.
It wasn’t until April 2024, when Weldon—now more mature and fully aware of the severity of the abuse—came forward to police, that the investigation gained new momentum. "It’s definitely taken awhile, but I mean, even I didn’t realize how many steps there would be to charge him with anything," Weldon remarked, praising the police for keeping her informed as the case progressed.
The subsequent investigation uncovered disturbing evidence. In May 2025, authorities executed a search warrant at Gardner’s home, seizing electronic devices that contained images of nude girls, many of whom were filmed by a hidden camera placed in a gym bathroom at Gardner’s previous job in Purvis, Mississippi. The FBI believes Gardner "primarily targeted children" at gyms in Iowa, Mississippi, and Louisiana, where he worked dating back to 2004. The investigation remains ongoing, with Gardner currently charged in federal court in Mississippi with producing visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Additional charges may yet be filed as authorities sift through the evidence.
Gardner’s ability to continue finding work—even after serious allegations surfaced—has raised troubling questions about gaps in the system designed to protect young athletes. Despite being suspended from gymnastics by SafeSport in July 2022, Gardner secured a position as a surgical technologist at MercyOne West Des Moines Medical Center in 2024, a role that required direct contact with patients. The hospital confirmed that Gardner is no longer employed there, but the episode underscores the limitations of sports-related bans when it comes to broader community safety.
The case has also reignited debate over the effectiveness and transparency of SafeSport. Critics, including attorney Steve Silvey, argue that the organization’s processes are slow and opaque, leaving the public and potential employers in the dark for years. "From an outward operational view, it seems that if SafeSport is involved in any way, the situation turns glow-in-the-dark toxic," Silvey commented. Even USA Gymnastics President Li Li Leung has called for more consistency, standardization, and communication from SafeSport, acknowledging the challenges the organization faces as it juggles thousands of cases annually with limited investigative staff.
For Weldon, the journey has been both harrowing and empowering. After her family’s moves to Texas and Utah, she continued to train, ultimately achieving elite status in the USA Gymnastics Junior Olympic program and earning a Division I college scholarship. She sees her perseverance and success as a direct rebuttal to Gardner’s attempts to undermine her dreams. "I eventually proved Gardner wrong by earning elite status and a spot on a Division 1 team," she said.
As the investigation continues, Weldon’s courage stands as a beacon for others who may be suffering in silence. Her willingness to put her name and story forward has already made a difference, breaking the cycle of abuse that has haunted the sport for too long. "I was the one who did come forward," Weldon declared, determined that her experience will help prevent future harm. The gymnastics community, and the wider world of youth sports, will be watching closely as the case against Gardner unfolds and as institutions consider how best to protect the next generation of athletes.
