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Anastasia Valeryevna Lyukina, better known to the world as Nastia Liukin, is a gymnastics legend.
The gold medal-winning Olympian is now a writer and an entrepreneur and is flourishing in many other ways.
Liukin spent her earliest years in Russia, where her parents were both celebrated athletes.
According to Liukin, her parents just wanted her to follow her dreams.
Liukin’s parents didn’t only inspire her; they also supported her on her way to the Olympics.
Her skill was evident at a young age.
“By the time I was 12, I was an Elite gymnast.”
That same year she made the Junior National team.
In 2008, she finally headed to the Olympics.
Little did she know that her fame was about to grow even more.
Today, young gymnasts dream of winning big at the Nastia Liukin Cup.
But she wasn’t ready.
Even her father and coach, Valeri, was surprised that she wanted to keep going.
“Winning the all-around gold medal, nothing can top that.”
Unfortunately, another round at the Olympics wasn’t in the cards for the gymnast.
After failing to make the 2012 Olympic team, she announced her retirement from the sport.
“I flailed a bit, for sure,” she admitted toBustle.
After retiring, Liukin suddenly had more time to explore her passions outside the sport.
You’re so fat,'" the gymnast toldStyleCaster.
The public was relentless, and it took a toll on her self-esteem.
Liukin became a recluse, wearing “really baggy clothes” and avoiding being seen in public.
Liukin was still exercising regularly, but her body had changed and she had some trouble accepting that.
She eventually got there, though.
The Olympic medalist showed off her graceful dancing skills in 2015 when she competed onDancing With the Stars.
Liukin performed well on the dance competition, although she didn’t win.
Ever the hard worker, Liukin rose to the challenge.
The Olympian attended New York University, graduating in 2016 with a degree in sports management.
They eventually stopped speaking to each other.
“They won’t allow us to be friends.”
The rift remained for eight years until Johnson sent an e-mail to her former teammate.
Both women had been missing each other and quickly rekindled their friendship after Johnson reached out.
“It brought us together.
It drove us apart.
It brought us back together.”
Alas, things didn’t work out between the two, and they eventually ended up calling it quits.
She admitted to feeling “like a failure” after the end of the engagement.
Two of those people were her best friend Shawn Johnson and Johnson’s husband, Andrew East.
“That’s how you have to feel every single day.”
That’s not the only way she’s using her fame and fortune.
“It’s very scary.”
