Years after sex abuse scandal, a young gymnast says "it happened again"

U.S. Years after sex abuse scandal rocked USA Gymnastics, a young athlete says "it happened again" By Jake Rosenwasser May 11, 2026 / 9:07 AM EDT / CBS News Add CBS News on Google Sean Gardner, a gymnastics coach who trained elite young girls, will be in federal court in Mississippi on Monday for a change of plea hearing after facing 12 felony counts of sexual exploitation of children. He initially pleaded not guilty. The charges stem from allegations Gardner set up a hidden camera in a girls' bathroom in a Purvis, Mississippi, gymnastics facility where he worked, recording girls between the ages of about 6 to 14 undressing and changing into their leotards in 2017 and 2018. Investigators seized approximately 50 videos and 400 photos from Gardner's residence as evidence, according to an FBI affidavit. Gardner is allegedly seen shutting the camera off in one of the videos.In addition to those allegations against Gardner in Mississippi, there are also claims of misconduct at one of the most revered gyms in competitive gymnastics. The Gardner case could stand as one of the first major lapses in the protection of young gymnasts since the Larry Nassar scandal. After Nassar — the disgraced doctor who pleaded guilty to molesting multiple young gymnasts — USA Gymnastics leadership promised wholesale changes to its safety protocols. A CBS News investigation has found that the mother of a young competitor alerted USA Gymnastics about behavior from Gardner she found concerning as early as 2018, but he was still able to move from the gym in Mississippi to Chow's Gymnastics & Dance in Iowa, a decorated training center that has produced two Olympic gold medalists, Shawn Johnson and Gabby Douglas. Gardner stands accused of abusing at least five young gymnasts at Chow's in separate lawsuits. "Had they done any kind of even surface investigation, they would have found this plethora of abuse that's sitting there," attorney John Manly said of USA Gymnasti...