September 2022 Covergirl: Shawn Johnson East
At 30 years old, American gymnast Shawn Johnson East has accomplished a lifetime of achievements that include multiple Olympic medals, a New York Times best-selling book, several businesses, a career in broadcasting, and a mirror ball trophy after winning Dancing With The Stars. Born and raised in Des Moines, Iowa, Shawn’s girl-next-door charm named her “America's Sweetheart.” After retiring from gymnastics in 2012, Shawn made appearances on several TV shows, including The Apprentice and Adventure Capitalists. Shawn married Andrew East, with whom she has documented her life on their shared YouTube channel—which has over 215 million views—and a podcast that has climbed to #2 on the overall charts.
Shawn Johnson captured the hearts of Americans when she won four medals at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China—far from where Johnson’s gymnastics journey began at just three years old. After training at Chow’s Gymnastics & Dance Institute, Shawn competed on the United States National Team and earned herself a qualifying spot on the 2008 Olympic Team.
In Beijing, China, Shawn Johnson became a household name as she won the gold medal on the balance beam and three silver medals (in team, all-around, and floor). Fans eagerly looked forward to Johnson winning a spot on the 2012 Olympic Team, but shortly before the Olympic Trials, Johnson withdrew due to an injury. She subsequently retired and transitioned her career into becoming a Nike trainer.
Following her Olympic success, Johnson has written multiple books spanning from autobiography to fiction. In 2009, she published her first book, Shawn Johnson, Olympic Champion: Stories Behind the Smile, and in 2012 her second book, Winning Balance: What I’ve Learned So Far About Love, Faith and Living Your Dreams. Then, in 2016, she wrote her first fictional novel, The Flipside.
In addition to her career as a gymnast, author, and entrepreneur, Johnson competed on Dancing with the Stars, where she met her now husband, Andrew East. They now have two kids, Drew and Jett. Johnson now continues to give back to her community through philanthropic opportunities, such as the Fitness for Life Act in Iowa, which advocates for support and funding for physical education programs.
The year is 2008: you’re 16 years old, and you’ve just won an Olympic gold medal on the balance beam. Can you describe what you felt like after you finished competing?
To be honest, it felt like a breath of fresh air. I had put so much pressure on myself for so long to get to the exact moment, it was almost as if I could finally just breathe and relax. The pride, excitement, elation, all of it, was enormous, but the overwhelming relief of "I did it" consumed me.
In 2012, you announced your retirement from gymnastics due to a knee injury. How did you cope with the injury? Did you struggle with the transition out of gymnastics?
It was the first time in my career that my body had "failed" me and forced my hand into retirement. That was a lot to process because it didn't really feel like the end of my career was on my terms. However, because it was forced, I had to accept the transition and embrace it more than I think I would have otherwise. That transition was very difficult because I had to relearn my identity outside of my sport for the first time in my life on a very public stage.
What is the most valuable life lesson you learned from your years as a gymnast?
That literally falling flat on your face a thousand times is necessary in order to succeed. I think the greatest and most humbling part of gymnastics is its terribly unforgiving nature. I learned at three years old what it felt like to fall over and over and over again but then I also learned how much pride and joy I felt when I persevered and finally achieved a skill, milestone, or goal I had been working for. That life lesson is one I remind myself of daily.
Can you tell us a little bit about the books you’ve written and the inspiration behind them?
Winning Balance was a memoir I published right after the Olympics. It was a compilation of diaries and journals I had kept throughout my entire career. Up until that moment, the "face" I was taught to show the world was one of perfection and grit, and I was excited after I competed to show what was actually behind the curtain: a face that was real, human, and vulnerable.
You host a podcast and run a YouTube channel alongside your husband, Andrew East, in which you’re both very open and vulnerable. How has vulnerability helped you in your life?
It's made me feel less isolated in the world. It took many, many years for me to learn how to knock down my obsession with perfectionism and allow myself to ask other people for help. The podcast and YouTube channels are all extensions of that vulnerability in an attempt to bring together a community of people who feel isolated in their worlds as well.
As the brand strategist for your media company and community organization, FamilyMade, what are your goals for the business?
My goals for that business are to unify, uplift, and celebrate families.
In addition to FamilyMade, are there any other projects that you’re currently working on?
We have our hands in a lot of passion projects spread across so many spaces. Outside of FamilyMade, we work in venture capital supporting entrepreneurs and their endeavors, as well as serving on the board of HopeSports (our family's non-profit that builds homes for impoverished families in Mexico). On top of that, we have a family honey business, a family coffee business, and many other very random and unique entrepreneurial endeavors! □
Article Credits
Shawn’s Instagram: @shawnjohnson
FamilyMade’s Website: FamilyMade.com
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