In 2008, gymnastShawn Johnsontook the Beijing Olympics by storm.
The following year, she followed up her success witha win onDancing With the Stars.
She officially retired from the sport in 2012, but the Olympian hasn’t been resting on her laurels.
Since leaving gymnastics, Johnson has become a bestselling author, an entrepreneur, and a wife.
She’s also launcheda popular YouTube channelfor fans who just can’t get enough.
If you’re Johnson’s mom and dad, you put them in gymnastics.
She added, “At home she was a terror, and she was a danger to herself.
She would stack her toys and attempt to get to a higher level, and it was awful.
Johnson’s parents didn’t dream that she would becomean Olympic gymnast.
“I feel like it’s kept me grounded” she toldHuffPost.
Johnson is also grateful that the community supported her throughout her gymnastics journey.
Where is that?'”
“And I was just always so proud to have my community behind me.”
Like many young people, Johnson struggled with her body image.
Theylimited her training to 25 hours a weekinstead of the typical 45.
“They didn’t want me to live and breathe becoming a future Olympian.
That wasn’t even a thought to them.”
Johnson retired from the sport a week before the Olympic trials.
Building her brand
Johnson’s post-gymnastics life has been busy.
“I was kind of cast into the limelight of the Olympics,” she toldCNBC.
“My goal in branding was always just to stay relevant and brand myself outside of gymnastics.
The secret to branding?
Capitalizing on your niche.
Johnson’s authenticity has kept her relevant and also made her relatable to her fans.
Coaching might be in her future
What does a gymnast do after she’s retired?
“I love working with kids and seeing them learn,” she toldLifehacker.
“Kids have the purest form of passion and drive and it’s inspiring to be around.”
“I’ve always loved the idea of coaching collegiate…
I don’t know if I could coach elite because it’s just so intense.
I want to have more fun with it than that.”
Johnson is married to a fellow athlete, the NFL’s Andrew East, whoplays for the Washington Redskins.
Her now-brother-in-law thought that Johnson and his brother would be a perfect match.
The match was, indeed, made in heaven, and the pair tied the knot in 2016.
“I love him more every single day,” Johnson toldPeoplea year into their marriage.
A devastating miscarriage left her feeling guilty
In 2017, Johnson suffered a devastating miscarriage.
The loss left her reeling.
It was just this super emotional time.
It was probably the hardest thing I’ve ever had to go through.”
In the end, it was the couple’s strong faith that pulled them through the heartbreak.
Her childhood dreams, however, were quite different although no less inspirational.
Life obviously took her somewhere else, but Johnson sees this as a blessing.
Instead of letting change pull you down, embrace it and thrive!"
The fact isn’t lost on Johnson.
she wrote in the channel’s description.
Haha oy vey!"
When you’re a household name, you don’t really need anything else to draw viewers in.
While her YouTube following isn’t massive, it’s still pretty popular.
“Up until the Olympics, I knew nothing but gymnastics,” she toldClassPass.com.
“So after, I felt lost.
I didn’t know how to go to a gym and work out.
In 2018, she launched her own fitness brand geared towards women called Fyt Life.
Fyt Life has positivity at its core.
“I started it because growing up in gymnastics, perfectionism became this obsessive trait,” said Johnson.
I wanted women to have a real platform where they could feel safe and motivated.”
The superpower she wants most
We could argue that Shawn Johnson is already a superhero.
Anyone who has seen her compete might assume that gravity has very little hold on her.
“Well, the first thing I thought of was flying,” Johnson toldBabe.
Superhero or not, it’s hard to deny that there’s something magical about Johnson.
“Don’t let anybody change you.
I will always be right,” she toldLifehacker.
In April 2019, Johnson and East announced that they were again expecting a baby.
The couple toldUs Weeklythat they were feeling “guarded” and “excited” about thepregnancy.
“I went into, like, protective mom, like, take care of my body.
