While recently scrolling through Facebook, I found a video titled, “I am Second.” With curiosity, I found that the video reveals the struggles of my Olympic gymnast idol, Shawn Johnson. Throughout those seven minutes, I felt inspired. I had empathy for her. I was shocked by what she felt. And I was proud of someone whom I have never met.
At only 24-years-old, Shawn Johnson has accomplished things most of us will never dream of. She is the 2007 World Artistic Gymnastics all-around and floor exercise champion. She also won the gold on the 2008 Olympic balance beam and took silver for all-around, as well as the floor exercise. To top it off, she was the winner of season eight Dancing with the Stars in 2009 (Wikipedia 2016).
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Clearly, she has an immense amount of determination, talent, and will-power. Only a focused, goal-driven perfectionist could achieve what she has before her 20’s. Sounds like an awesome role model for other gymnasts, right?
Well, Shawn tells us differently. Soon after the 2008 Olympics, her life went down an unhealthy spiral.
The video begins with Shawn explaining what it felt like to receive a silver medal at the 2008 Olympic games. What it felt like to lose against a teammate. While she told everyone it was an honor, she was crushed. Even the person who awarded the medal knew it. Before handing it to her, he said, “I’m sorry.” And those two words confirmed exactly what Shawn thought she was. A failure.
The press said she was going to take home all the gold that year. And she took one. Since the world only saw her as “Shawn Johnson, the gymnast,” she felt like she had not only failed herself, but also everyone else.
In order to prove that she was worthy, Shawn tried out for Dancing with the Stars at 16-years-old. She is still the youngest contestant today. While Shawn was four foot eight and incredibly muscular, all the other women on the show were tall, thin, beautiful dancers. Unfortunately, growing up in the spotlight eventually took its toll. Much of the media attacked her weight and appearance, and therefore, attacked her self-esteem.
Shawn completely exhausted herself by trying to please her parents, the media, and her sponsors. She attempted losing weight, she worked her ass off 40 hours a week training for the 2012 Olympics, and everything else seemed to topple over after that. She remembers not sleeping or eating well, and even losing hair due to stress and depression.
Finally, after feeling so distraught for so long, she found a revelation. Standing at the end of the balance beam one practice, Shawn realized that it wasn’t worth it (I Am Second RSS 2016). She realized that taking care of herself came before pleasing others.
Yes, a gold medal was “monumental,” but it wasn’t everything. There are bigger things in the world.
Shawn Johnson is talented, but she is also gifted. Many women go through their entire lives thinking they are ugly or fat because they don’t look like someone else in a SHAPE magazine. Several people go through life believing they need to do more. Believing they need to make more money or constantly be at the top.
As long as you work to the best of your ability, and as long as you enjoy life with ease, you’ll be much better off. Shawn now accepts herself. She also accepts that it’s okay to be second at whatever you do as long as you’re happy. No matter what she says, Shawn Johnson is not second in my eyes. It takes a brave person to do what she did.
Please watch this inspiring video. I promise you won’t regret it.
Sources
"Shawn Johnson." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 16 July 2016. Web. 17 July 2016.
"Shawn Johnson." I Am Second RSS. White Chair, 27 June 2016. Web. 17 July 2016.
