Former Olympian and Mother Shawn Johnson Shares Household Journey Ideas as She Heads to the 2024 Olympics — Youngsters in Tow

Former gymnast Shawn Johnson East is heading again to the Olympics — this time as a spectator along with her husband and three younger kids.

The 32-year-old well-known for taking house 4 medals — together with the gold for stability beam on the 2008 video games in Bejing — is now a mother of three whose travels look a bit totally different lately.

“I’ve all the time mentioned that once you set your expectations at touring with children is figure, it normally goes rather well,” she advised Journey + Leisure in a latest interview. “I feel folks have a tough time touring with children once they’re like, ‘oh, I could not chill out on the airplane.’ That is not going to occur with children!”

Her keys to preparation? Motion pictures, toys, actions, and the attention that children additionally “wish to see new issues too.”

“They wish to go along with mommy and daddy, they usually wish to play, they usually wish to do all this stuff,” she mentioned.

Johnson, who has been to Paris earlier than along with her husband — former NFL participant Andrew East who she met on the 2012 London video games — can be attending the video games as a household and also will be heading to some kid-friendly sights, together with Disneyland, she advised T+L.

“We would attempt to see some artwork however I can’t image my children liking that,” she mentioned, mentioning that she’ll even be on the video games in a piece capability with Yahoo Sports activities.

Normally, she is aware of what to do relating to retaining her children — daughter Drew, 4, son Jett, 2,  and son Barrett who’s just some months outdated — occupied in a brand new place. Her greatest recommendation for touring with three kids underneath 5 years outdated? Discover all the very best playgrounds wherever you’re visiting, and supply loads of actions for the flight together with coloring books, motion pictures, snacks, and non-stick foolish putty. 

She additionally tries to not be too scheduled. They plan lodging however don’t schedule inflexible actions because of the unpredictability of touring with kids. She mentioned they preserve a listing of actions, eating places, and sights, permitting them to be versatile on a day-by-day foundation.

Johnson and East, who presently dwell in Nashville,  have already taken their younger kids on many journeys together with annual mission journeys and on a Greek Islands cruise that embarked from Israel.

And simply because they’re touring, their day by day way of life isn’t deserted, together with wholesome consuming. Although her daughter simply found croissants (a French staple, after all), wholesome consuming is a giant a part of her household’s way of life which is why the Dancing with the Stars champion not too long ago partnered with Barilla Protein+® pasta.

Because the mom of toddlers who would solely eat pasta, she was determined for some added protein. When she acquired the protein-packed pasta — with 17 grams of protein per 3.5-ounce serving — in a PR field she was thrilled and much more glad when her children beloved it.

“I used to be like, ‘that is genius.’ Now now we have large pasta nights each Saturday, and it is simply so significantly better for you, which I like,” she advised T+ L. 

And whereas in Paris she could also be swapping pasta for a baguette, Johnson is happy to see what 2024’s Crew USA has in retailer.

“All the large ones, clearly,” she mentioned when requested what occasions she’s particularly trying ahead to. “Basketball, swimming, observe & subject, however then additionally equestrian, taekwondo, desk tennis, jousting, all of them!”