Growing up in Beijing, Chow was tapped by a district club at the age of 5 to train in gymnastics.[5] He was on China's national gymnastics team for more than a decade, winning numerous national and international medals.[5] However, he never competed in an Olympic Games; in 1988 he was too young to make the Chinese team, and before 1992 he suffered a back injury and retired from competition.[6]
He moved to the United States in 1991 on the suggestion of his aunt, who was working on her Ph.D. at the University of Iowa. He accepted an English scholarship and a position as an assistant coach for the University of Iowa's men's gymnastics program. Afterwards he accepted a coaching job for the women's program. Following his experience working with female gymnasts, Chow decided to open his own gym to train gymnasts at a younger age, when they would be more flexible and open to learning new skills. He and his wife moved to West Des Moines and opened Chow's Gymnastics and Dance Institute on August 23, 1998. He expanded his operation to an 11 acres (4.5 ha), two-gym facility by 2003.[5] In June 2008, a flood destroyed the facilities.
Chow was the personal coach of Shawn Johnson since 1998. He began working with Gabby Douglas in 2010. He is known for his fatherly affection toward his proteges.[5]
Personal
Chow is married to Liwen Zhuang, a former gymnast on the Chinese national team. They have one child, named Kevin.[5] Chow became a U.S. citizen in 2002.
International Elite Athletes
He has three international elite gymnasts, one senior and two juniors. His juniors are Norah Flatley, and Victoria Nguyen . Following the retirement of former elite Alexis Vasquez, Chow's only senior is Rachel Gowey.
United States
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