Olympian Shawn Johnson reveals 'Special Forces' tested her marriage to Andrew East

Jackie Longo

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Olympian Shawn Johnson reveals 'Special Forces' tested her marriage to Andrew East image

Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson East is sharing the hardest part about filming "Special Forces: World's Toughest Test" with her husband, former Kansas City Chiefs long snapper Andrew East. 

The quasi-military training reality show pits contestants, dubbed recruits, against harsh environments in a shortened training course that is designed to replicate the U.S. Special Forces selection course. 

While one would think that having a spouse on a military-style reality competition show would give a competitor a leg up in the game, producers did everything they could to tear the couple apart, the 2007 Olympic all-around world champion said. 

"They tried really hard, I think just to [break us apart] — not because they were, like, anti us — but just to see, like, the mental strength and where your breaking points are,” Shawn, 33, told "Us Weekly" on Wednesday, September 10. 

The athletic couple proved resilient, standing strong through all the challenges producers tried to throw at them. 

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"Every time they tried to pit us against each other, I think they just kind of got frustrated because we were, like, not shaken by it at all,” Shawn revealed. “I remember I was put in a room once with the [Directing Staff], and they’re like, ‘Isn’t it just so annoying? Like how he comes running and he’s breathing down your neck when he thinks you’re hurt?’” Shawn recalled. “I was like, ‘I kind of think it’s endearing. It’s kind of great."

Having her husband by her side wound up being an advantage for the Olympian in the end. Shawn said his presence helped her push herself even further than she would've without him on the show. 

 "It was a wild ride," she told the outlet. “It would have been sad if one of us did it alone. Because you cannot describe it — you can’t capture the full experience in words," Andrew echoed.

The Olympic gymnast and former NFL star will appear on Season 4 of "Special Forces: World's Toughest Test" when it premieres on September 25.

 

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Jackie Longo

Jackie is a freelance writer and editor with The Sporting News. She has covered sports, entertainment and lifestyle for over a decade. She has written for a number of outlets including Business Insider, The Sun, Travel+Leisure and Heavy. She has a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism from West Virginia University and resides in Charlotte, NC.