After stepping away from the mats over a decade ago, Olympic medalist Shawn Johnson just revealed what helped reignite her love for gymnastics.

Having retired from the sport due to injury and burnout at 20, Johnson is now an ambassador for the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games. And in a June 11 interview with NBC’s Jonathan Bloom, she revealed her biggest gain from this endeavor.

“They love gymnastics so much, and they're not swept up in the politics or the fame or the medals or pressures or money,” she said. “For me, getting to such a high level, that got kind of messy and confusing, so I lost a little bit of that love. And I really think these girls gave that back to me.”

Johnson recently announced the release of her short documentary SOARING, which depicts the journey of three Special Olympians.

And their love for the sport restored Johnson's own, which she lost after retiring from elite competition.

“I love these girls (those featured in Soaring),” she added. “To hear their nerves and worries are exactly the same as mine were, being able to relate to them on such a competitive, specific gymnastics level, made us feel like friends and sisters.”

Being a coach and mentor to these Special Olympians gave Johnson a breath of fresh air after she left the sport on a bad note.

How Burnout Affected Shawn Johnson's Career

Winning one gold and three silvers at the 2008 Beijing Games, the physical pressure, loss of youth, and passion for the sport resulted in Johnson’s burnout. She recounted those days in a 2022 appearance at former soccer player Kelley O’Hara’s The Players’ Pod podcast.

“I was struggling a lot mentally. I doubted myself a lot,” she stated. “More than anything, I just lost the heart for it. I tried to fight that feeling for so long, but day in and day out, going to practice, I just hated it.”

The Special Olympics USA Games, set for June 20-26, will be the victory ground for those who fought hard to reach their goal. Furthermore, it may serve as a point of reconciliation for Johnson, who got to relive the love she once felt for gymnastics.

Are you excited for the event? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by

Deblina Roy

Edited by

Sijo Paul