Olympian
GOLD MEDALIST. GYMNAST.
I competed at the 2008 Olympics games in Beijing, China. Hundreds of millions of viewers worldwide watched as a 16 year old me win four medals including gold on the balance beam. I had practiced gymnastics since the age of 3, so this was a very rewarding experience. After the Olympics, I took a two-year hiatus from competitive gymnastics. However, I returned to training in 2010 in an effort to make the 2012 Olympic Team. Just weeks before Olympic Trials, I was forced to withdraw due to injury and retired from the sport. As athletics was still a passion, I became a certified Nike trainer, but I had spent my entire life focusing on gymnastics and at this point had no idea what would come next.
Author
new york times best seller
My first book, Shawn Johnson, Olympic Champion-Stories Behind the Smile, was published in January 2009. In June of 2012, my second book Winning Balance: What I’ve Learned So Far About Love, Faith and Living Your Dreams, was published and quickly became a New York Times Best Seller. I had a blast writing this and sharing some trials and tribulations with the amazing community that supports me.
In June of 2016 I was inspired to write a young adult fiction novel called "The Flipside" about a young woman who struggled with the same identity issues that I did as I tried to simultaneously pursue elite level athletics while also trying to be a normal kid.
Entrpreneur
building brands daily.
Entrepreneur
In 2014, I co-founded TheBodyDepartment.com, a site dedicated to offering an outlet where people can talk about body image, wellness, and fitness in a healthy way. Currently, I am operating an online digital content and consulting agency.
Additionally, I am always eager to help other entrepreneurs realize their dreams and have invested and advised multiple businesses. As a result, I had the opportunity to be a co-star on the CNBC show Adventure Capitalists. It was a blast!
Wife
i saved the best for last.
I first met her husband Andrew East in 2012 while I was competing on Dancing with the Stars and he was a junior at Vanderbilt University. We grew our relationship in Nashville as he finished his degree and eventually married there on April 16, 2016. He is the love of my life and I am grateful for him and his support every single day. I couldn't dream for a better man, leader, or lover in my life. Check out his page here!
Philanthropist
the world needs more of you.
I have had so many wonderful opportunities and I want to be sure I do my part in sharing with others. I am involved in a number of philanthropic activities such as working with animal and children’s charities, working with cancer charities, particularly those that affect women and children, and am also a strong advocate of health and wellness initiatives.
Back in 2016 I even as helped to introduce the Fitness For Life Act that advocated for a new physical education program within the state of Iowa. I am also involved in programs that help build good character amongst youth across the country and currently sit on the advisory council of Character Counts which is known to be the world’s most comprehensive and effective youth developmental program. Additionally, I am on the board for my brother in laws organization called Hope Sports, which enables athletes to find their identities in things outside of sport through building homes for impoverished families around the world.
