GOSSIP & RUMORS: Shawn Johnson shares why she refused to speak with best friend Nastia Liukin for 8 years

Gossip & Rumors: Shawn Johnson Shares Why She Refused To

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Gymnast Shawn Johnson has detailed why she refused to speak with her best friend and former Olympics teammate Nastia Liukin for eight years.

Johnson, 32, who won the gold medal for balance beam at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, spoke about her friendship hiatus with Liukin, 35, during a recent interview with Access Hollywood.

“Nastia and I were best friends, training, and at the [2008] Olympics we were roommates,” Johnson recalled. “We were 16 and 18 years old, we were kids.”

Though the pair had worked out a way to be both competitors and friends, the public’s desire for them to be bitter rivals drove a wedge between the phenoms.

Shawn Johnson and Nastia Liukin at the 2023 ESPYS. ABC via Getty Images
Gold medalist Shawn Johnson and silver medalist Nastia Liukin congratulate each other during the medal ceremony for the Women’s Beam Final at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. Getty Images

“I felt like we were under the spotlight and scrutiny so much to be each other’s top, biggest competitors,” Johnson explained.

“And we had figured out on the competition floor how to be best friends and competitors. But when the world started kind of interjecting how we should handle it, they said we should also be each other’s worst enemies as well.”

After the Beijing games, Johnson and Liukin didn’t speak for eight years. Only after their significant others intervened did the gymnasts get back in touch and revive their friendship.

(L-R) Andrew East, Shawn Johnson, Nastia Liukin, and Ben Weyand at The 2023 ESPYS. Variety via Getty Images
(R-L) Shawn Johnson and Anastasia Liukin of the USA hold their hands to their hearts during the national anthem played in honor of their Gold and silver medals during the Artistic Gymnastic competition in the 2007 XV Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Getty Images

“Our boyfriends at the time got so tired of hearing us talk about each other that they said, ‘Enough of this, just go talk to each other again,’ and we did,” Johnson revealed. “And ever since then, it’s just like we haven’t skipped a beat.”

“It was amazing,” Johnson said of her and Liukin’s reunion, but added, “It also was really confusing for both of us because we were really nervous.”

“We didn’t know how to rekindle that [friendship],” the gold medalist confessed, though their nervousness was short-lived. “It was truly within, like, two minutes we were back to being best friends.”

Shawn Johnson, right, and Nastia Liukin lead the 2008 US Olympic team into the gym as they are announced on the final day of the USA Gymnastics Olympic selection camp on Jul. 19, 2008. Houston Chronicle
Shawn Johnson (center, first) and Nastia Liukin (right, third) celebrate on the podium during the 2007 Visa Gymnastics Championship on Aug. 18, 2007 in San Jose, Calif. Getty Images
Shawn Johnson and Nastia Liukin during the Tour Of Gymnastics Superstars at the Conseco Fieldhouse on Nov. 11, 2008 in Indianapolis, Indiana. FilmMagic

“We both said the same thing, ‘I don’t know what happened but I miss you and I miss us,’” Johnson said of the reconciliation. “And it’s been that way ever since.”

In addition to her gold medal for the balance beam event, Johnson, who married former NFL player Andrew East in April 2016, took home three silver medals at the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics, for floor exercise, individual all-around and team all-around.

Olympians Nastia Liukin and Shawn Johnson at the 29th annual Salute to Women in Sports Awards at the Waldorf-Astoria on Oct. 14, 2008 in New York City. WireImage
Olympians Shawn Johnson (L) and Nastia Liukin attend the “Before I Fall” New York special screening on Feb. 28, 2017 in New York City. Getty Images

Liukin won the coveted gold medal for individual all-around in women’s gymnastics that year, also nabbing silver medals for the uneven bars, balance beam, and team all-around plus a bronze medal for the floor event.

Johnson retired from gymnastics in 2012, after a long battle to overcome a knee injury that ultimately prevented her from going to the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. Liukin retired from the sport that same year after she failed to make the United States’ 2012 Olympic team.



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