IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) In a poignant recounting of her past trauma, Finley Weldon, an 18-year-old gymnast, expressed pride in her resilience after escaping the clutches of her now-arrested coach, Sean Gardner. In an exclusive interview with the Associated Press, she reflected on the abuse she and other gymnasts endured during their training at a prestigious Iowa academy.
Weldon is set to begin her freshman year at Iowa State University, where she will compete for the Cyclones gymnastics team. Her interview comes shortly after Gardner's arrest on a charge of child sexual exploitation. Welcoming the opportunity to speak out, she stated, “I didn’t want him to take away anything from me, especially something that I love.” She highlighted that none of her peers who experienced similar abuse continue to pursue gymnastics, marking her continued participation as a significant personal victory.
Weldon noted that she has sought to make a difference similar to that of her role models, including Olympian Aly Raisman, who has brought national attention to the abuse suffered by gymnasts through her courageous accounts of trauma. Weldon made the choice to publicly identify herself to prevent similar experiences for younger athletes, saying, “I felt like I needed to speak out to stop it from happening to other little girls.”
The FBI has indicated that Gardner, now 38, targeted minors during his coaching tenure at Chow’s Gymnastics and Dance Institute in West Des Moines, as well as other facilities in Mississippi and Louisiana since 2004. He was arrested following an investigation sparked by allegations first reported in March 2022 by another former gymnast from Chow’s, which eventually led to a broader inquiry into Gardner’s conduct.
Upon informing the U.S. Center for SafeSport of her allegations, Weldon advised investigators of her own experiences. After SafeSport reported the concerns to local law enforcement, it suspended Gardner from coaching in July 2022. However, the investigation was initially hampered when the first accuser chose not to file charges. Weldon stated that she did not hear from police at that time but later decided to come forward in April 2024, at age 16, recognizing the severity of her experiences.
As the investigation unfolded, West Des Moines Police documented disturbing evidence from Gardner's residence, including images sourced from a hidden camera he installed at a gym in Purvis, Mississippi. The police took decisive actions, seeking FBI assistance as more allegations surfaced, culminating in Gardner being charged in federal court related to the illicit recording of minors.
Weldon’s narrative chronicles her journey through abuse, noting that Gardner's inappropriate behavior began slowly but escalated significantly over the years. She recalled experiencing emotional manipulation under the guise of mentorship, especially during a tumultuous family period marked by her parents' divorce. The inappropriateness culminated in increasingly severe instances of abuse, impacting her passion for gymnastics.
Despite the adverse effects of Gardner's tactics, including attempts to undermine her ambitions, Weldon eventually defied his expectations by achieving elite status and securing a place on a Division 1 gymnastics team. Following Gardner's arrest, she observed the changes in him, reflecting on how he appeared significantly worse in his booking photo, suggesting guilt weighed heavily on him.
Weldon continues to advocate for awareness and prevention of abuse in sports, highlighting the need for systemic changes to protect young athletes from exploitation. Her story emphasizes the importance of speaking out and the impact individual voices can have in championing justice after trauma.
