Shawn Johnson and Nastia Liukin: The Heartwarming Reunion After 8 Years Apart!

To Shawn Johnson East, former teammate Nastia Liukin is an all-around good friend.

In a unique interview with TopMob News, Shawn shared that the gymnasts who both collaborated and competed against each other at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, managed to rekindle their friendship after eight years of no communication. He stated, “This speaks volumes about our bond,” Shawn explained. “To return and say, ‘What caused the rift? I’m genuinely sorry. I’ve deeply missed you and there’s been a void in my heart.’

The athletes’ strong performance, winning gold and silver medals in the individual all-around gymnastics competition at the Games, as well as their subsequent team second-place finish, did not significantly contribute to the initial strains in their relationship. (At 35, Nastia added a silver on uneven bars and beam, along with a bronze on floor exercise, while Shawn, aged 33, secured gold on beam and silver in floor.)

With outside influences telling the then-teens they should be at odds, their friendship faltered.

Shawn clarified, “We often find ourselves immersed in a realm that makes us interpret others’ actions as ‘It seems they’re doing this, or it appears they’re upset.’ The issue lies in letting others dictate your thoughts and feelings more than yourself.

As someone who co-hosts the “Couple Things” podcast alongside my spouse Andrew East, I’ve come to realize that achieving a smooth finish – metaphorically speaking – relies heavily on open communication.

Shawn remarked, “I recall a statement from an interview on a podcast that suggested the human heart was not designed for the numerous voices we encounter daily through social media and news. In moments of uncertainty, I believe it’s essential to silence the noise and connect directly – reach out to someone, have a cup of coffee.

To Drew (age 5), Jett (age 3), and Bear (14 months), the mom said, “Nastia and I could have really used that time apart, as we both missed each other a lot. We were listening to other people’s voices instead of our own. But when we finally quieted all that noise and sat down together, it felt like we had never been away.

As an Iowan at the time, I was meticulously arranging our 2016 vow-taking ceremony, which was to take place close to our home in Tennessee, together with my partner, Andrew.

Shawn shared that he expressed, “‘Given the short notice, I can’t even picture my wedding without your presence.’ She managed to make it, and it turned out to be an incredible moment.

And the pair have been getting high marks ever since.

Even though they continue to be associated with gymnastics, they’ve ventured into other areas as well. For instance, Nastia offers insights on beauty, wellness, and fashion through her self-named site, while Shawn delves into podcasting and is working on projects such as her recent partnership with Beam for their new Kids All-in-One Superpowder.

She enthusiastically shared with TopMob how much her children adore the nutrient-rich drink, adding, “They recognize it as their vitamins, yet they’ve never questioned this fact. All they ask for is their chocolate milk.

Additionally, it goes without saying that she and her ex-teammate are equally thrilled at the prospect of either going on a solo outing or a double date with Andrew and Nastia’s significant other, Ben Weyand.

Additionally, they aren’t the sole gymnasts flourishing away from the mat. Check out what they and other former Team USA members have been engaged in since giving up their chalk.

In the realm of gymnastics, she was one of the early female athletes to significantly boost its popularity across the country. Her impressive displays at the 1968 Mexico City Games, although she didn’t win a medal, were key to this achievement. Following her participation in the 1972 Olympics, Rigby decided to retire. However, it’s not just her sports career that has earned recognition; she gained notice for portraying Peter Pan on stage, which landed her a Tony Award nomination in 1991.

As a devoted admirer, I can’t help but acknowledge that she’s been an ever-present figure in both theater enthusiasts’ hearts and TV viewers’ minds. With her extended tenure as an ABC Sports commentator and memorable roles like those on the series “The Six Million Dollar Man,” she’s made a lasting impact. What truly resonates with me, though, is her courage to openly share her struggles with disordered eating over the years.

Tom McCoy, her spouse and partner in life, is the father of two children with her, while she also has two children from a past relationship.

In the 1980s, she was a significant cultural icon, retiring in 1986. At the 1984 Los Angeles Games, she clinched five medals, including gold in the all-around, becoming the first American woman to do so. She has four children with her former husband, Shannon Kelley, who was a quarterback for the University of Houston; they separated in 2018.

Beyond her athletic career, she was outspoken in politics, backing President Ronald Reagan during his 1984 reelection campaign and later addressing the 2004 Republican National Convention. She also appeared in movies such as “Scrooged” and “The Naked Gun 33+1/3”, and most recently, she was inducted into the Houston Sports Hall of Fame in 2020 – making her the first woman to achieve this honor.

The retired athlete was hospitalized for severe pneumonia in 2023.

She earned the title of the most decorated female Olympic gymnast in history with a total of seven medals won at the 1992 Barcelona Games and 1996 Atlanta Games. However, Simone Biles surpassed her by winning eight medals. After missing out on qualifying for the 2020 Sydney Games, Miller shifted her attention towards education, obtaining a business degree followed by a law degree. Yet, she chose not to take the Bar Exam.

Miller further showcased her presence in fitness-related videos, released her 2015 autobiography titled “It’s Not About Perfect”, and is a proponent for combating childhood obesity. She has two children with her second husband, John Falconetti.

She is primarily recognized as a two-time medalist who overcame an ankle injury during the 1996 Atlanta Games to excel on the vault, with her coach, Béla Károlyi, carrying her to the podium in a memorable moment. This extraordinary feat sparked numerous media appearances, such as on Saturday Night Live and Beverly Hills, 90210, an encounter with President Bill Clinton, and she retired shortly after these events transpired.

Afterward, Strug pursued a career as a school teacher and delved into politics, even addressing the 2004 Republican National Convention. Her memoir, titled “Landing On My Feet, A Diary Of Dreams“, is currently being developed into a film by director Olivia Wilde, with Thomasin McKenzie set to portray the athlete in it.

She and husband Robert Fischer share two children.

She took part in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, 1996 Atlanta Olympics, and 2000 Sydney Olympics, earning a total of four medals. Among these victories was a team gold medal in 1996, making her the first Black gymnast from any country to win a gold medal.

After the Sydney Games, Dawes decided to retire. She has been featured in several music videos, such as Missy Elliott’s “We Run This” from 2006, and took on the role of Patty Simcox during a 1990s Broadway revival of Grease.

In the year 2010, the athlete was appointed as a co-chair of President Barack Obama’s Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition. Furthermore, she is an advocate for raising awareness about autism. Dawes and her husband Jeff Thompson are parents to four children.

As one who dazzled during the 2008 Beijing Games, I was proudly adorned with four medals, including gold on the balance beam, placing me among the brightest stars of that esteemed event. Prior to the 2012 London Games, I chose to hang up my gymnastics shoes, having already etched my name in the annals of pop culture as a victor on “Dancing With the Stars” in the year 2009.

Ever since 2008, I’ve been an unwavering fan of this media powerhouse who graced a myriad of screens on shows like The Secret Life of the American Teenager, Celebrity Apprentice, The Challenge: Champs vs. Stars, Whose Line Is It Anyway?, Who Wants to be a Millionaire, and Family Feud. She even led the Pledge of Allegiance at the 2008 Democratic National Convention! To top it all off, she’s penned several books, including the 2016 YA novel The Flip Side. Simply put, I can’t get enough of this multitalented star!

Johnson is married to NFL player Andrew East, whom she tied the knot with in 2016. Together they have three children. The athlete has been candid about her past battles with eating disorders.

At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the gymnast won five medals, one of which was gold in the all-around competition. She decided to retire prior to the 2012 London Games and since then has been featured on television shows like Gossip Girl, Make It or Break It, and Hellcats, as well as making an appearance in the movie Stick It. Additionally, she took part in Dancing With the Stars in 2015 and published a memoir titled Finding My Shine during that same year.

In 2018, she and hockey player Matt Lombardi called off their engagement.

In the year 2022, I made my relationship with Ben Weyand, the Operations Vice President at Trive Capital, Instagram-official.

From the 2012 London Olympics, she won two medals, one being team gold. Following her silver medal win on the vault that same year, her seemingly disinterested expression during the podium ceremony made her an internet sensation as a meme.

Since announcing her retirement in 2016, Maroney has ventured into both acting and singing careers. She’s made appearances on various TV shows such as Hart of Dixie, Bones, and Superstore, and she debuted her first single titled “Wake Up Call” in 2020.

In 2021, she appeared in a Geico ad, during which she gave her infamous “not impressed” look.

At the 2012 London Olympics and the 2016 Rio Olympics, Douglas was a member of the victorious teams. In 2016, he also claimed gold in the individual gymnastics all-around event, making history as the first African American to achieve this feat.

After participating in the Rio Games, Douglas moved on to become a well-known figure in TV and media. She penned her 2012 memoir titled “Grace, Gold, and Glory” and was portrayed in the 2014 Lifetime movie named “The Gabby Douglas Story“. Furthermore, she appeared with her family in an unscripted series on Oxygen called “Douglas Family Gold“.

Among other television engagements, they’ve been on shows like “Kickin It” and “Undercover Boss”, and in the year 2020, they also bagged the title of “The Masked Dancer”.

2024 saw her return to sports competition, expressing aspirations to participate in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. However, a troublesome ankle injury prevented her from taking part in the U.S. gymnastics championships that May.

Simone Biles, the American female gymnast who has earned the third-highest number of Olympic medals, trailing only Miller and Raisman, amassed six medals during the 2012 London Games and the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games. Among these medals were the gold from the floor competition in 2012, as well as two consecutive team golds.

After my successful stint at the Rio Games, I decided to hang up my gymnastics shoes and embark on a new journey. In 2017, I shared my experiences in the memoir titled “Fierce”, and later made a brief appearance in the 2019 film adaptation of Charlie’s Angels. My dance skills were showcased when I placed fourth on Dancing With the Stars back in 2013. The following years saw me gracing the pages of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, first in 2017 and then again in 2018. Additionally, I’ve dipped my toes into literature by penning two books: “Fierce”, published in 2017, and a children’s book titled “From My Head to My Toes” set for release in 2024.

She had a notable romantic involvement with Colton Underwood before their split in 2017. This was followed by his stint as a contestant on The Bachelorette and subsequently, as the lead of The Bachelor.

At the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games, a two-time medalist was a member of the U.S. team that won gold. Although she retired from gymnastics in 2021, Hernandez reported on women’s gymnastics for NBC at the 2024 Olympics in Paris.

Beyond her athletic achievements, Hernandez clinched the title of season 23 on Dancing With the Stars at just 16 years old, making her the youngest champion ever. Additionally, she reported on American Ninja Warrior Junior and lent her voice to a character in Nickelodeon’s Middle School Moguls, which premiered in 2019. In 2017, she published her memoir titled I Got This.

A New York University student, also an athlete, has been in a relationship with photographer and former Olympic trampoline gymnast Charlotte Drury since the end of 2020.

2025-02-15 17:17

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