Olympic Fever: Talking to Olympic Gymnastics Alumna Shawn Johnson East

Listed in the nicknames section of Shawn Johnson East’s Wikipedia page is “America’s Sweetheart.” She secured that title as a 16-year-old competing in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, where she took home a balance-beam gold medal, as well as silver medals in floor exercise, women’s artistic individual all-around and women’s artistic team all-around.

She’s spent much of the time since in Nashville, having moved to Music City nearly 13 years ago. Johnson East has also collected a slew of TV appearances, started a social media brand, married Vanderbilt football alum and former NFL player Andrew East and had three children — Drew (4), Jett (2) and Barrett (7 months).

This month, Johnson East and her family will be traveling to Paris so she can work for Yahoo Sports and watch another significant fivesome: the USA Olympic women’s gymnastics team. Johnson East says it’s an honor to witness the talents of Simone Biles, Suni Lee, Jordan Chiles, Jade Carey and Hezly Rivera — as well as Joscelyn Roberson and Leanne Wong, who were named as alternates.

She spoke with the Scene ahead of her trip to Paris. 

What do you think of the team this year?

I think it’s an incredibly strong team. For the first time in history, four girls are repeating from Tokyo. It’s a very, very strong team filled with expertise and wisdom. 

The fifth spot was named to Hezly Rivera — she’s so strong and consistent. She’s just a baby; she just turned 16. I really think she’ll be a strong asset to the team. The two alternates, Joscelyn and Leanne, are also very, very strong. It was a very tight run for that fifth spot. I think it’s one of the strongest teams we’ve ever had. 

Do you see yourself in any of these athletes?

It’s a very small sisterhood in Olympic gymnastics. I see my experience in what they’re going through right now, but it’s also a complete new generation of athletes who are at a different skill set and level than we ever were. They’re evolving the sport to levels that I’ve never seen before, which is really, really cool.

What are your thoughts on that evolution?

A lot of it is the same, and a lot of it has evolved. The sport naturally evolves every four years, just like it does with marathon times or in football. Sports evolve and get more and more difficult. That’s the natural cadence. I do think Simone, single-handedly, has expedited that process exponentially because she’s so talented. It’s really cool to see how it’s shifting into a more difficult sport. 

Was gymnastics something you loved, or more something you’re just very good at?

I absolutely loved it. I fell in love with it from the first day I watched in the gym when I was 3 doing “mommy and me” classes, to the day that I retired. It was my passion. It started out as an extracurricular activity and became an obsession and became a career. It became way more than just a hobby, and I truly loved it. 

You’ve talked about how you started and finished your gymnastics career before you met your husband and had children. How will it feel to share the Olympics with them this year?

Really special. I think there’s some sort of weird full-circle moment happening at the Olympics where I get to go back with my husband and my babies and be nothing more than a spectator and not have any inclination to want to be out there anymore.

Back in the day, I gave everything to my sport. I don’t think I would have been capable of having a significant other at the same time. It’s been really special to be able to share bits and pieces of it with him. 

Now that you’re a mother, what did you learn from your parents about raising a talented child?

My mom taught me from such an early age that it’s my life and my interest. I think a lot of times parents get confused by living vicariously through their kids instead of fostering what their kids are actually enjoying and good at. I think we have a duty now, my husband and I, as parents to find whatever passions our kids have and help foster those. It could be something I have no interest in or have no understanding of, and it’s still my job to help them figure it out. 

We are trying absolutely everything. That’s what my parents did for me — put me in every sport and every hobby. Even though I showed that I loved gymnastics so much, they made sure I tried everything, and at the end of the day, gymnastics was the one that I wanted to stick with.

Olympic Fever: Nashville’s Many Connections to the Olympic Games

Profiling the Walsh sisters and others heading to Paris, chatting with past Olympian Shawn Johnson East and much more