Full Analysis Summary
Gymnastics abuse lawsuits
Lawsuits filed in Polk County, Iowa, allege that USA Gymnastics and the U.S. Center for SafeSport ignored repeated complaints that coach Sean Gardner groomed and sexually abused preteen and teenage gymnasts.
The suits say the organizations allowed Gardner to continue coaching after reports beginning in December 2017.
The legal complaints also name Chow's Gym owners Liang "Chow" Qiao and Liwen Zhuan, and related family corporations.
Plaintiffs allege all defendants were negligent in responding to reports of Gardner's misconduct.
Associated Press and WABI reported on the lawsuits and the accusations that complaints were ignored.
Coverage Differences
Narrative emphasis
Associated Press (Western Mainstream) emphasizes the broader pattern of complaints, noting that “several former gymnasts have reported abuse” and that more lawsuits are expected; WABI (Local Western) focuses more narrowly on the Polk County suits and local implications, while also linking the civil complaints to recent criminal charges against Gardner. AP frames the matter as part of an ongoing, expanding scandal; WABI emphasizes the local filing and the immediate allegations that allowed Gardner to be hired at Chow’s.
Allegations Against Coach Gardner
Plaintiffs' complaints include detailed allegations that parents reported to USA Gymnastics and SafeSport in December 2017 that Gardner required lengthy hugs after training.
The complaints allege he expelled a girl who refused and held a closed-door meeting in which he verbally abused a girl.
They also allege he kissed gymnasts on their foreheads, drank excessively in front of athletes, made sexual jokes and inappropriate social-media comments, and stalked.
Plaintiffs say grooming behaviors were reported by his then-boss in January 2018.
The lawsuits say Gardner was allowed to keep coaching and that SafeSport allegedly failed to investigate a separate report in September 2020.
The Associated Press summarized similar allegations, noting parents' reports in December 2017 and additional claims about his conduct.
Coverage Differences
Detail scope
Associated Press provides a long list of alleged grooming and abusive behaviors (hugs, kisses, verbal abuse, social-media comments, stalking) and asserts SafeSport’s alleged failure to investigate a 2020 report; WABI repeats many of these specific allegations but frames them in the context of how the organizations failed to revoke credentials or report him to police, highlighting institutional omissions. AP lists a wider catalogue of alleged behaviors; WABI stresses institutional inaction that led to his subsequent employment at Chow’s Gymnastics.
Lawsuit against gym owners
Lawsuits name Chow’s Gym owners Qiao and his wife Liwen Zhuan, along with the family corporations that own the gym and property.
The suits allege Qiao and Zhuan did not adequately vet coach Gardner and continued to employ him after complaints that he inappropriately touched girls while spotting them.
Chow’s has told reporters that Gardner passed a standard background check.
Chow’s says Gardner was fired after being suspended by SafeSport in July 2022, before any finding of misconduct.
The Associated Press reported that Qiao and Zhuan did not respond to requests for comment and repeated Chow’s statement.
WABI reported that Chow’s founder Liang “Chow” Qiao is also named as a defendant.
Coverage Differences
Defendant response and attribution
Associated Press quotes Chow’s statement that Gardner “passed a standard background check” and was fired after a SafeSport suspension, presenting the gym’s defense; WABI focuses on naming Qiao as a defendant and the allegations against him without reproducing Chow’s full quoted defense. AP thus includes the proprietor’s rebuttal language, while WABI centers the legal action and local naming of defendants.
Reporting and institutional responses
The coverage documents disputed timelines and institutional actions regarding reports to USA Gymnastics and SafeSport.
The suits say parents reported to USA Gymnastics and SafeSport in December 2017.
WABI reported SafeSport said it had not been served in the Iowa suits.
WABI also said SafeSport issued a temporary suspension in 2022 after receiving the first report and later changed Gardner's status to 'ineligible' after his arrest.
Plaintiffs allege SafeSport failed to investigate a separate Chow's report in September 2020.
The Associated Press notes suspensions and ineligibility changes tied to later developments and reports that the complaints say Gardner was allowed to keep coaching.
These discrepancies underscore differences between reporting on the alleged chronology and organizational responses.
Coverage Differences
Timeline and organizational action
WABI reports SafeSport’s statements about issuing a temporary suspension in 2022 and later changing Gardner’s status to “ineligible” after his arrest, and notes SafeSport said it had not been served; Associated Press highlights allegations that SafeSport failed to investigate a 2020 report and that Gardner remained coaching — AP emphasizes alleged institutional failures, while WABI includes SafeSport’s procedural comments.
Charges and lawsuit coverage
Civil suits have arrived amid criminal charges against Gardner.
He faces federal child pornography charges tied to an alleged hidden bathroom camera in Purvis, Mississippi.
Prosecutors say the camera recorded at least 10 minors between December 2017 and April 2018.
Gardner has pleaded not guilty and is jailed awaiting trial.
WABI connects the civil filings to those criminal allegations and notes the timing of Gardner's hiring at Chow's in 2018.
The Associated Press situates the lawsuits as part of a wider set of reports from multiple former gymnasts and says more suits are expected.
Both outlets report serious allegations of sexual abuse and grooming.
WABI places heavier emphasis on the criminal case details and the local implications.
WABI quote: "Gardner faces federal child pornography charges… that prosecutors say recorded at least 10 minors; he has pleaded not guilty and is jailed awaiting trial next month."
Associated Press quote: "Several former gymnasts have reported abuse by a coach identified as Gardner, and more lawsuits are expected."
Coverage Differences
Content emphasis (criminal context)
WABI details the federal child pornography charges and the alleged hidden camera recording at least 10 minors, emphasizing the criminal case and local timing of employment; Associated Press underscores the broader pattern of multiple former gymnasts reporting abuse and the expectation of further civil suits. WABI therefore foregrounds criminal prosecution details, while AP emphasizes the expanding civil litigation and pattern of allegations.