What Shawn Johnson Learned from Her Humbling Special Forces Win

Shawn Johnson, a former gymnast and now champion of “Special Forces,” made her feelings clear upon winning the reality TV show. The competition puts celebrities through grueling, military-style selection courses, inspired by the actual U.S. Special Forces process. Johnson reached the season 4 finale alongside Gia Giudice, Kody Brown, Brianna LaPaglia, and her husband, Andrew East.

This is not Johnson’s first time on a reality TV Show, previously competing on “Dancing With The Stars” in 2009 where she became the youngest champion in the show’s history.

What Message Did Shawn Johnson Send After Winning On Special Forces?

During the final challenge, which involved simulated capture and interrogation, East and Brown were eliminated because they were unable to maintain their cover stories. LaPaglia withdrew just minutes before the show ended. Johnson and Giudice ultimately became the winners and passed the entire course.

According to E! Entertainment Television, here’s what Johnson had to say about her performance: “They literally strip away people’s core and it’s a very humbling experience. I learned that you can’t just tune the world out and get your job done, you have to be able to balance both.”

After stepping away from gymnastics in 2012 because of a persistent knee injury, Johnson soared to new heights outside the arena. She became a New York Times bestselling author and, alongside her husband Andrew, launched ventures like UniQorn Coffee and FamilyMade. Her relentless drive, both in and out of competition, made her victory on the show feel almost inevitable.

What Johnson’s Husband, Andrew, Had To Say After Getting Eliminated

Johnson has been married to Andrew since 2016, with Andrew proposing to her at a Chicago Cubs baseball game in 2015. The couple first met through Andrew’s brother, Guy East, who was a pro cyclist competing at the 2012 London Games, where Andrew was a sports commentator.

After his elimination on “Special Forces,” Andrew sent a positive message to his wife regarding her performance, saying: “I’m bummed that I didn’t pass selection but I didn’t fully understand the situation. I did not voluntarily withdraw myself, so I can rest easy knowing I gave it all I had. No doubt Shawn will make it ’til the end.”

Johnson and Giudice managed to survive the final challenge in the finale, which involved being buried alive without confessing that they were military recruits. Giudice, a social media influencer and aspiring lawyer, stated after the challenge ended that she and Johnson will be forever bonded thanks to this experience, ultimately pushing through for her family.