From best friends to an 8-year-long no-contact, gymnastics stars Shawn Johnson and Nastia Liukin’s friendship went through a trial of hardship. And the cause lay at the 2008 Beijing Games.

“Nastia and I, we were best friends, training, and at the Olympics, we were roommates,” Johnson told Access Hollywood in 2024. “We were kids. I felt like we were under the spotlight and scrutiny so much to be each other’s top, biggest competitors…”

Both Johnson (16) and Liukin (18) returned victorious from Beijing, with 4 and 5 Olympic medals, respectively. They had also remained competitors and best friends despite everything, unless they couldn’t anymore.

"But when the world kind of started interjecting how we should handle it, they said we should also be each other's worst enemies as well," Johnson explained further. "So, we didn't speak for eight years."

Though the pair competed together as part of Team USA, having to navigate through intense competition while being under the spotlight at such a young age cost Johnson and Liukin their best friendship.

This rift could’ve lasted for more than eight years. But thankfully, both Johnson and Liukin’s partners at that time jumped to the rescue.

How Shawn Johnson and Nastia Liukin Reconciled

Although the gymnasts maintained a distance, a testament to their friendship was the fact that both Johnson and Liukin kept talking about each other. And that’s what propelled their boyfriends to intervene.

“Our boyfriends at the time got so tired of hearing us talk about each other,” Shawn explained. “They said, ‘Enough of this, just go talk to each other again,’ and we did. And ever since then, it’s just been like we haven’t skipped a beat. We’re each other’s best friends, biggest supporters.”

The heat of this 8-year-long rift ended over a lunch date in New York, and Liukin even attended Johnson’s wedding to former NFL star Andrew East. She’s also the godmother of Johnson’s daughter, Drew Hazel.

Just as Johnson and Liukin’s friendship stood the trials of time, adversities and tremendous pressure, can you name another athlete duo with similar experience? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by

Deblina Roy