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

Former gymnast Shawn Johnson East is heading again to the Olympics — this time as a spectator together 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 completely different lately.

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

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

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

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

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

Generally, she is aware of what to do in the case of preserving her youngsters — daughter Drew, 4, son Jett, 2,  and son Barrett who’s just some months outdated — occupied in a brand new place. Her finest recommendation for touring with three kids underneath 5 years outdated?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, films, snacks, and non-stick foolish putty. 

She additionally tries to not be too scheduled. They plan lodging however don’t schedule inflexible actions as a result of unpredictability of touring with kids. She stated they hold an inventory of actions, eating places, and sights, permitting them to be versatile on a day-by-day foundation.

Johnson and East, who at the moment reside 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, in fact), wholesome consuming is an enormous 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 joyful when her youngsters beloved it.

“I used to be like, ‘that is genius.’ Now we’ve got huge pasta nights each Saturday, and it is simply so significantly better for you, which I really like,” she informed T+ L. 

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

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