Shawn Johnson is a retired American gymnast. She competed in the 2008 Olympic Games, winning a gold medal on the balance beam and three silver medals (team, all-around, floor exercise). Johnson has appeared on Dancing With the Stars and has a thriving social media following as a result of her lifestyle blog, iHeartSparkle. She and her husband, Andrew East, are now “serial entrepreneurs” with a number of ventures in the works.
It’s an impressive resume, and one that puts Johnson among the likes of Simone Biles, Dominique Dawes, and Mary Lou Retton. But, as she explains on a recent episode of the podcast Dinner Party with Jeremy Fall, it wasn’t always easy to get there. In fact, she almost gave up on the sport entirely when she was just 16 years old.
While many people might think that the success of a decorated Olympian like Johnson would be a source of pride and joy, it can often come with an overwhelming sense of pressure that can be hard to manage. That’s especially true for young athletes, who may have a harder time than adults when it comes to accepting criticism and feeling the effects of societal pressures.
For Johnson, this meant developing an eating disorder when she was just a teenager. In the interview, she explains that she had a great group of support around her — including her parents and her coach, who both seemed to care more about her having a healthy life than their success in the gym — but that the intensity of the standard she was being held to led to an unhealthy relationship with food.
She says she’s been on the other side of the equation now for a while, and she’s worked to develop more healthy relationships with food and find a way to navigate the stressors that can sometimes come with being an athlete in the public eye. She hopes that her own experiences, and those of other athletes who have struggled with body insecurities and the pressure to succeed, can help young people find their balance and confidence.
We’re so glad we got to talk to Shawn for this series on women in leadership — she was incredibly honest, open, and kind, and we’re confident that those who hear her words will be encouraged to keep pursuing their dreams no matter what they’re facing. You can check out the full interview on our YouTube channel and subscribe to our podcast to stay up-to-date on future episodes! Have a question for us? Tweet @HereAndNowNews! We’ll do our best to answer it. And don’t forget to follow Shawn on Twitter!
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