First appeared on E!online
This summer, attending the 2024 Paris Olympics, Shawn Johnson East and her husband Andrew East are excited to cheer on American athletes as they strive to achieve greatness in basketball, cycling, swimming, and, of course, gymnastics.
On the other hand, children mainly support Mickey Mouse.
“I don't think they appreciate or understand any of it,” the Olympic gymnast, who left the 2008 Olympics with three silver medals and a gold medal on balance beam, told E! News from an exclusive interview. “We understand that too. We're going to Disneyland Paris. I think that's what they're most looking forward to.”
Well, at least Drew, 4, and his younger brother Jett, 2, are excited about the chance to meet Elsa and Cinderella. His younger brother Bear, who joined the den on Dec. 12, is mostly just riding along.
Johnson admitted that “it's ridiculous to go all the way to Paris to go to Disney,” but hopes the team can imbibe some of the red, white and blue spirit at the Olympics. “I think the kids will enjoy the big green lawn,” the 32-year-old joked. “I saw kids having fun doing some crazy things like diving, but I don't get it.”
Shawn Johnson's journey
But she's sure her daughter Drew will be happy to see her mom pulling for her fellow gymnasts.
“Drew enjoys watching gymnastics just for the leotards,” Johnson said. “So she'll probably enjoy looking at the leotard for 20 minutes, and we'll be happy with that.'' Regarding Daredevil's middle child, Johnson said of Jett, “I think he'll watch skateboarding at the Olympics.'' It's going to be really fun.” “There are a lot of niche sports. I don't think families will stick around for sports that they really want to go to, like swimming or basketball.”
And there's another gold medal-worthy event the parents of three are preparing for: trying not to lose their child in a packed Parisian arena.
“The only thing that makes me nervous about Paris is that there are a lot of people at the Olympics,” Johnson explained. “There's a lot of people gathered together, so there's a lot of possibility that I won't be able to see the little ones, and that scares me. So I'm a little nervous for that.”
But mainly because she and East, 32, a longtime Olympic ambassador, have already turned pro flying with their young children in tow, and missed the 2020 Olympics after giving birth to Jett. After that, he said he was ready to absorb everything.
“We traveled a lot with our kids,” Johnson explained of the seasoned jet-setter. “We're used to it. Last year we did a big show in the Greek islands, we did Mexico, and my family and I often go to Tijuana for missionary work.”
Therefore, she has full confidence in their ability to flawlessly perform all the movements required for a month-long stay abroad.
“I'm very excited,” Johnson said. “We're going to tour Europe for almost five weeks. We'll do it all. We'll do trains, planes, cars and boats.”
And the pair have already won rave reviews for how they're navigating their new life with three children under the age of five.
One of the parenting hacks this athlete suggests is letting yourself go a little bit when it comes to food. Their go-to dinner is “any meal you can heat up quickly,” Johnson said, explaining why they're partnering with Morningstar Farms to promote the April return of vegan librettos. (Fans can enter the “First Dibs” sweepstakes by March 29 for a chance to be the first to try dibs during lunch with an Olympian.)
She also focuses on giving each child as much one-on-one time as possible, but admits that “we have to sacrifice time for each other.” Ultimately, Johnson said, “we know it averages out naturally, but we're still figuring out how to do that,” she continued.
Thankfully, her team remains as close-knit as ever. “They really love him,” she said of the reaction to Drew and Jett's latest baby. “As an only child myself, I didn't fully understand siblings until I married into a family where my husband was one of five children and learned about the bond.”
And now it's on a whole new level. “Seeing the bonds that the kids have already formed is so special and something I've never experienced before,” Johnson said. “It's really powerful.”
