How Shawn Johnson Supports Olympic Parents and Hypes Up Her Household
Decorated Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson East and her husband, former NFL player, Andrew East, go “all in” in every aspect of their lives. In their athletic careers, professional pursuits and their parenting of three little ones—Drew, 4, Jett, 2, and Barrett, 8 months—they’re committed to showing up and doing their best every day. But their focus isn’t solely on their own family. This summer, they’re also dedicated to helping competing parents at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
After launching the Moment Makers Foundation in 2023, the couple was further inspired by track and field Olympian Allyson Felix’s efforts to provide free childcare for parents at the Olympics, and donated $250,000 of their own money to create Moment Makers Grants. These grants aim to ease the financial burden of travel, childcare and other expenses athletes inevitably encounter on their way to the Olympic games. The Bump recently chatted with Johnson about what motivated this move, her excitement for the upcoming Olympics, her experiences as a mom and the invaluable piece of advice that helped shape her into the star she is today.
The Bump: Last summer, you and Andrew launched the Moment Makers Foundation, which aims to find, foster and fuel life-changing family moments. This summer, you’re focused on providing grants to parents who are Olympic athletes to help cover costs ranging from travel to childcare. What motivated you to do this? Shawn Johnson: Many people think Olympic and Paralympic athletes are all sponsored and have all their expenses paid for, but that’s usually not the case. Traveling to compete in another country usually comes at a pretty high financial cost, which most of these athletes are paying for themselves. If they’re parents, they’re paying for childcare expenses on top of that, which can be a lot. We wanted to take the financial burden off these parents and help them financially with their childcare needs, however they need it. Whether it’s flying their children to Paris with them to make memories as a family, hiring a babysitter to fly with them or paying for a babysitter at home while they travel to compete, we are just honored to help these incredible athletes however we can.
TB: You’ve discussed how this initiative was inspired by Allyson Felix’s Childcare Grant in 2021. How do you feel this complements the work she’s doing now to help Olympians who are parents? SJ: I told her, ‘I love what you’re doing. I love that you’ve thought of this. If there’s any way we can help at all, please let us know.’ She’s working really hard this year to help provide childcare on-site. To complement that, we wanted to come in from the beginning—cover the costs of travel and help alleviate the burden that’s often put on Olympic athletes. Any US competing Olympic or Paralympic athlete who is a parent, male or female, can apply. We have a no-questions-asked policy. You don’t have to provide receipts. If you’re a parent, you can apply for this grant and we’ll give $5,000 grants to anybody who wants them. From my experience as a mom and an athlete, there are so many small things that come along that the money could go towards. It will be a check grant that will go directly to them. We don’t care how it’s used. We think if you’re a parent, it’s just going to help alleviate the stress or burden of costs that come with the Olympics. I think people don’t even realize that all these Olympic athletes actually have to pay their way to the Olympics. It’s very expensive, and if you’re competing, you’re probably not working. So any way that money could help a competing parent, we’re happy to give it—no questions asked, no receipts needed. It’s just to kind of ease your mind.
TB: When it comes to this year’s Olympics, will you, Andrew and the whole family be going? SJ: We will. The whole family. Me, Andrew, all three kids, my parents and my husband’s mom. A bunch of friends of ours who are former competing athletes are going and bringing their kiddos as well. It’s going to be quite the family affair in Paris, which I’m really excited about.
TB: Is there anything in prepping for this big trip that you are worried about? SJ: I’m really trying to study how to get a sleeping situation on the plane for my toddlers. We’re flying an overnight red-eye coach flight to London, staying there for a few nights and then taking the train to Paris. I would really like it if they slept, so I’m trying to figure that out.
TB: Have you traveled with Drew and Jet before? What are your tricks for ensuring a good flight? SJ: Oh yes. We’ve made international trips frequently. They’ve been to Mexico and Greece. This will be our first true overnight international red-eye, so we’ll see. Honestly, my tricks are nothing fancy. Snacks, an iPad and their coziest favorite blanket. Just get them ready to sleep like you would do at home and then get 'em tired enough to close their eyes.
TB: The Moment Makers Foundation is all about fueling life-changing moments. Are there any big Olympic moments that you look forward to sharing with your littles this year? SJ: It feels very “full circle” to go to the Olympics as a family. When I was there competing, it was my absolute dream at the time to be there, and now my dream is to be the best mom and wife I can be. It’s really cool to be able to go back to the Olympic games with my husband and kids and make memories as a family. We’ll be going to the gymnastics competitions, and that’ll be a really sweet moment. But I think it’ll just be special being at the Olympics. Hopefully, someday, when they’re 27 years old, they’ll realize how big of a deal that was—not because of me necessarily, but because they got to go to the Olympics.
TB: Is there anyone that you’re excited to reconnect with or spend time with as a family during the Olympics this year? SJ: A lot of people. Many friends of mine from the Olympics live all over the United States and the world, and I’ve reconnected with quite a few of them who are now married and have babies, and we’re all going to be in Paris at the same time. So I’m sure you’ll see pictures and videos and stuff when it comes out, but it’s just a lot of people wanting to travel with their families this year, which seems really special. I feel like that’s new. I don’t remember seeing that ever. I didn’t have kids back then, but it seems like a lot of kids are going to, which will be fun.
TB: Speaking of friends, you’ve spoken on your podcast before about how sometimes varying parenting styles can strain friendships. How do you still find peace and community despite differing parenting philosophies? SJ: I think, ultimately, just finding common ground that we’re all in this together. I feel like it isolates people sometimes if you’re not on the same nap schedule or whatever. We’re all on the same team trying to get through it.
TB: When it comes to creating and maintaining friendships in your adult life, what do you wish people would understand about being friends with a parent of toddlers? SJ: I would say include the kids and you’ll be able to connect. I think a lot of people who are friends with parents expect them to still live a non-parenting lifestyle, which is impossible. Parents want to spend time with their kids. I do think there’s the option and availability if you can find babysitters, but that takes so much more effort and logistics. I think if you can truly embrace as a friend, your friends being parents and include their kids, it’s the best. Honestly, we spend most time around a pool, and we feel like that’s the best way to socialize with friends too. Like, bring your kids over. We have snacks, we have drinks, you can get dirty. You can just have fun and be a kid and be a parent.
TB: The world today is filled with so much parenting advice—it can be overwhelming. How do you decide what you’re going to listen to and what you’re going to let go? SJ: I think it’s just a mom gut thing—what resonates with you. Every mom is doing it differently. I can watch something or see something and be like, I don’t know if that’s kind of my style. But you find your go-tos and your community and you kind of stick with them.
TB: I know you and Andrew are close to your parents. Is there anything that you tried to incorporate into your parenting that you got from them? SJ: A million things. I’d say my husband and I have talked about both my parents and his parents—they’re your ultimate hypemen. They just believe in you. So over the top, it makes you feel like a million dollars. And both my husband and I were raised thinking we could accomplish literally anything. I want our kids to have the same feeling.
TB: How do you make sure you’re your kid’s ‘hypemen?’ What does that look like? SJ: It’s just a rewarding effort. My daughter is so into fashion and dressing herself, and she gets a lot of confidence from that. And if I try to dress her in something that I want and belittle her preferences, that’s not being a hype man. It’s about just celebrating them and not trying to project what I want them to be.
Andrew and I really try not to put any pressure on our kids and just support them in whatever activities they like to do. People will ask me if I want my kids to do gymnastics, and I honestly don’t have a preference! Right now, Drew is into ice skating, and Jett is into motorbiking, and that’s been amazing to watch. We will cheer them on in whatever they decide to do!
Plus, more from The Bump
Navigate forward to interact with the calendar and select a date. Press the question mark key to get the keyboard shortcuts for changing dates.
