Shawn Johnson

Shawn Johnson East is an American former gold-medal gymnast known for her time as a member of the 2008 US Olympic team. Johnson spent her childhood in Des Moines, Iowa, where she began competing in gymnastics at age 3. She was later coached by Liang Chow, whom she remained a student of for over two decades.

Johnson began competing as a senior gymnast in 2007, just one year before qualifying for the Olympic team. While at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, she took home the gold medal for balance beam along with silver medals for team, all-around and floor exercise. She is also a three-time U.S. all-around champion and a five-time Pan American Games gold medalist. She announced her retirement from gymnastics in 2012.

Johnson was the winner of season 8 of Dancing With the Stars, taking home the mirrorball trophy in 2009 with her pro partner, Mark Ballas. She competed on the all-star edition of the show in 2012, finishing in second place with Derek Hough. Johnson has released two memoirs about her time in gymnastics and a young adult novel.

The athlete got engaged to Andrew East in 2015, and the couple wed one year later. Johnson and East welcomed daughter Drew in 2019 and sons Jett and Barrett in 2021 and 2023, respectively.