As Olympic gymnasts, Jordyn Wieber and Nastia Liukin are best remembered as teenage dynamos flying across the world stage before taking to the top of the medal podium.
But while an Olympic champion remains just that for their entire lives, gymnasts grow up, leave the sport and become totally different people – something that many apparently struggle to understand.
In a recent interview with PopSugar, the pair of gold medalists sat down to talk about life after the sport, including how they were shamed both for their athletic bodies at the peak of their game as well as for their less muscular bodies following retirement.
Talking it out: Olympic gold medalists Jordyn Wieber (left) and Nastia Liukin (right) revealed how they never escaped being judged on their bodies, no matter if they were competing or not
The highest heights: Nastia took the all-around gold at the Beijing Olympics in 2008 (left), while Jordyn (right, at the 2011 World Championships) won team gold in London 2012
When asked by host Kirbie Johnson if they were always comfortable with their bodies, both Olympic champions answered without hesitation: ‘No.’
Jordyn, who took team gold at the London 2012 Games, described how as a high schooler she felt she had the body ‘of a little boy’ and boasted bigger biceps than most kids in her school, which made her feel self-conscious.
‘But at the same time, that’s what we got as a product of all the hard work we put in, and that’s what got us the Olympics,’ the 22-year-old said.
Yet even as gymnasts, the women claim there were and still are expectations placed on how they should look.
‘Even now, because we are both “retired”… people do remember us as gymnasts so there still is that expectation to be in shape, to look like that 16-year-old gymnast we did 10-12 years ago,’ said Nastia, 27, who won the all-around gold at the Beijing Games in 2008.
The years after: The retired athletes talked about struggling with body image as youngsters
Moving on: Jordyn, pictured left in 2012, and right in 2014, revealed how she was once self-conscious of her muscular body, but also realized that it was what ‘got us to the Olympics’
Yesteryear: Nastia, pictured left in 2008, and right in 2010, explained how people expected her to look like ‘that 16-year-old gymnast’
‘It was hard because your body goes through these changes and people remember you as this really fit gymnast and they’re like, “Oh… what happened?”‘
As for their looks during competition, both women expressed regret over not doing a bit more in the hair and make-up department during their competition years, especially after seeing the Final Five ladies’ looks at the Rio 2016 Games.
‘It’s tricky. It’s hard because you are flying through the air so your hair has to stay in, but you want it to look cute,’ said Jordyn. ‘So it has to be gelled back. I wish I knew as much about hair and make-up back when I was competing as I do now because I just slicked back my ponytail as tight as I could.’
Nastia similarly regretted her pink scrunchie and pink leotard look from the Beijing Games in 2008, saying that she probably would have played up her style more if she could do it again.
Taking the leap: Jordyn is seen in 2012 competing in the Olympic Floor Exercise Team final
Big hitters: The two champions showed off very different forms in competition
Top of her game: Nastia retired from the sport back in 2012, before the London Games
Big moment: Jordyn retired the year before Rio in 2015 while two of her London 2012 teammates went on to another Team Gold in 2016
‘Obviously the focus is your gymnastics, but at the same time it is about presenting yourself because it is a subjective sport,’ she added.
Both ladies also revealed that their personalities were different on and off the mats, adding that they were incredibly ‘serious and focused’ in competition, but came into their ‘fun’ real selves after leaving the sport.
The women also discussed how the attitudes around these different personas is tinged with a bit of sexism.
‘When men are competing, whether it be gymnastics or football or basketball, they’re serious, they’re in their zone. But then when women do it, it’s kind of like: “Oh she must not be very nice or pleasant to be around,”‘ said Nastia.