Shawn Johnson East ‘excited’ to go back to Olympic Games with her children 16 years after winning gold

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Shawn Johnson East, renowned for her remarkable career that began at the age of 16, is now making a return to the Summer Olympics, as a spectator and with a new team by her side - her husband and three children.

The gymnast is celebrated for her accolades, including four medals—one of which is gold—at the 2008 Olympic Games.

Johnson East retired from the sport in 2012 and married Andrew East four years later. The couple now has three children: Drew Hazel, 4, Jett James, 2, and Barrett 'Bear' Madison, 7 months.

Shawn Johnson East shares excitement as she heads to Paris Olympics

Shawn Johnson East shared her full-circle moment before heading to Paris for the 2024 Olympics, as per People. 

Johnson East said, "It is really exciting. It's this weird, cool, cliche, full circle moment where I get to go back to the Olympic Games with my husband and my babies and watch gymnastics. It's really, really sweet and exciting." 

She then mentioned her children saying, "They have no clue. They are very excited about Disneyland in Paris, but couldn’t care less about the Olympics."

When asked which sports she thinks her children will enjoy most, she giggled and said, "I don't know if they care."

She then spoke about her 2-year-old son, Jett, "My son loves bicycles, so we're gonna try to go to the BMX. But I don't know. I think they'll like anything. I think they like the hype and the excitement of being anywhere."

East also talked about the people accompanying her to take care of her toddlers, saying, "We're bringing both my mom, my mother-in-law, and a nanny. So, I got really, really nervous at the idea of having three toddlers in Paris during the Olympics with so many people. My husband and I will have to go off and work a little bit, so I didn't want to leave three babies with one person. So we're making it a family affair." 

She continued, "We are a tight-knit bunch. We are family and inseparable. Even our nanny is truly our family, so we will be going everywhere together."

Shawn Johnson East says it's 'magical' to have three children

After welcoming Bear in December, Shawn Johnson East said, "It's been magical to have three." But she admitted she's "still trying to figure it out." 

She explained, "Three has thrown me off. I went from being someone who thought I could control everything to thinking I can control absolutely nothing for the rest of my life. Three has been a lot."

While her children may not be interested, Johnson East is "very, very excited to watch each and every one" of the 2024 Olympic gymnasts, calling them "such forces." She notes how becoming a mom has changed the way she views the athletes, saying, "Being a mom of three, I'm more motherly around it."

"I'm like, ‘Are they okay?’ I just pray that they're going to be safe. Do they need a cheeseburger? What can I do? It's more like that thought process," she explains.

While she doesn't necessarily miss competing, Johnson East admits, "I am nostalgic about it."

She jokes, "I'm such a washed-up old woman, comparatively speaking."

Shawn Johnson East's fans extend their wishes for her Olympics return

Following Johnson's interview with People, many social media users have shared their well wishes for the mother-of-three who is very excited about watching the 2024 Paris Olympics.

One user wrote, "Good Luck."

Another user added, "Loved watching you Shawn and congrats on your beautiful family!!!"

The third user dubbed, "My favorite gymnast."

A fourth user mocked, "She's going with her family to the games, she's not competing..."

Another said, "Enjoy we love you."

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