Gymnast Finley Weldon Reflects on Triumph Over Coach’s Abuse
In light of the harm caused by her coach, now apprehended, Finley Weldon expressed a mixture of pride and relief. The 18-year-old gymnast recently opened up to The Associated Press, revealing that she has emerged resilient from the abuse inflicted by Sean Gardner during her training at a prestigious Iowa academy known for cultivating Olympic talent.
As Weldon prepares to enter her freshman year at Iowa State University—where she will join the Cyclones gymnastics team—she shared her journey with the AP just days after Gardner’s arrest for charges of child sexual exploitation.
"I refused to allow him to take away something I love," she remarked. "None of the girls who started with me endured what I did and are still involved in gymnastics, so I take pride in being one of the few who remained."
Weldon feels a sense of accomplishment in contributing to the broader fight against abuse in gymnastics, inspired by figures like Aly Raisman, who bravely spoke out about her own experiences with Larry Nassar, shedding light on the pervasive trauma within the sport.
Although the AP typically refrains from naming sexual abuse victims, Weldon insisted on publicly disclosing her name to highlight her act of speaking out.
"I wanted to raise awareness to prevent it from happening to other young girls," she explained. "Silence only perpetuates the cycle."
The FBI announced on Tuesday that they believe Gardner had been "targeting children" during his time as a coach at Chow’s Gymnastics and Dance Institute in West Des Moines, as well as other facilities in Mississippi and Louisiana, dating back to 2004.
At 38, Gardner did not respond to messages from the AP prior to his arrest, and he has yet to enter a plea. A public defender representing him post-arrest has also not replied to inquiries.
In March 2022, a former gymnast at Chow’s, which is recognized for producing Olympic champions like Shawn Johnson and Gabby Douglas, reported allegations of sexual abuse against Gardner to the U.S. Center for SafeSport, claiming he had inappropriately touched her during sessions. This individual identified six potential other victims, according to an FBI affidavit.
Weldon indicated that she spoke to a SafeSport investigator regarding her abuse at that time. SafeSport, established in the wake of the Nassar scandal to investigate misconduct in sports, promptly notified the West Des Moines Police Department about the allegations, subsequently suspending Gardner from coaching in July 2022.
However, the police concluded their investigation the same year when the initial accuser opted not to pursue charges. Weldon noted that the police did not contact her in 2022, casting doubt on whether she would have pursued any action then. It wasn’t until April 2024, when she turned 16, that she felt capable of confronting her past as she gained awareness of the seriousness of her situation.
She acknowledged the police’s efforts in keeping her informed throughout the subsequent developments in the case.
“It took a significant amount of time, and I didn’t fully understand how complex the process would be to bring charges,” she said.
Iowa law enforcement confirmed that they confiscated electronic devices from Gardner’s residence in May, which contained explicit images of minors captured by a hidden camera he had set up in a gym restroom in Purvis, Mississippi.
Sgt. Daniel Wade of the West Des Moines Police Department stated on Wednesday that the agency sought assistance from the FBI in mid-July as the investigation grew more extensive. When asked about the timing of involving federal authorities, he remarked, "We engage the FBI when appropriate."
Gardner faces federal charges in Mississippi related to child pornography stemming from the hidden camera incident. Both federal and state inquiries remain ongoing, with the possibility of additional charges being filed.
Wade defended the police department’s investigative efforts over recent years, asserting they thoroughly pursued the matter as far as possible in 2022 without a victim willing to press charges and intensified their investigation upon receiving new allegations in 2024.
He refrained from commenting on whether investigators had reached out to Weldon or the other potential victims identified in 2022, only stating that they had opened "lines of communication with various individuals" that ultimately yielded results.
Weldon met with investigators on Tuesday, who requested her identification of herself in a photograph that Gardner allegedly took of her in a vulnerable position.
Reflecting on her early aspirations, Weldon explained that she had always aimed for excellence within the USA Gymnastics Junior Olympic program for potential international competitors. After relocating to Iowa in 2015, she began private lessons with Gardner shortly after his arrival at Chow’s in September 2018 when she was just 11.
Weldon described a challenging home life due to her parents’ divorce and her father’s limited presence. She noted how Gardner filled that void by assuring her she could confide in him, but now recognizes his actions as manipulative.
Her mother, Julie Weldon, stated she had heard troubling reports about Gardner from other parents and inquired with her daughter about any inappropriate behavior, to which Finley replied falsely, a misguided attempt to shield her coach.
Inappropriate behavior escalated in 2019 during lessons, starting with extended hugs and pats to more invasive contact. By 2020, Gardner began touching her inappropriately during exercises, dismissing her objections as accidents related to her leotard.
Weldon reached her breaking point after a 2021 training session when Gardner berated her and threw shoes in frustration over her performance. After that, she confided in her mother about wanting to quit gymnastics.
She mentioned that many classmates left or didn’t return due to Gardner’s conduct; however, despite the challenges, she persisted through moves to Texas and Utah, ultimately achieving elite status and securing a place on a Division 1 team.
Upon learning of Gardner’s arrest, Weldon was struck by his changed appearance in a recent booking photo.
“He seems to have deteriorated significantly,” she observed. “It appears he’s been carrying a heavy burden of guilt.”
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