RYAN J. FOLEY and EDDIE PELLS.

Two gymnasts who say they were sexually abused at an elite academy in Iowa have filed lawsuits against the sport’s oversight bodies, alleging Sean Gardner preyed on girls despite repeated complaints about the coach’s behavior. The lawsuits, filed Monday, allege USA Gymnastics and the U.S. Center for SafeSport were told about “inappropriate and abusive behaviors” as early as December 2017 when Gardner was a coach in Mississippi. The lawsuits allege the organizations failed to “properly investigate,” revoke Gardner’s coaching credentials, report him to law enforcement or take other actions to protect athletes. Gardner was able to get a coaching job at Chow’s Gymnastics and Dance Institute in West Des Moines, Iowa, in 2018, where his abuse allegedly continued for years.