"They said we should also be each other’s worst enemies"- Shawn Johnson opens up on her eight-year rift with Nastia Liukin

The former American gymnast Shawn Johnson opened up about the eight-year rift with fellow gymnast Nastia Liukin that kept them from speaking to each other professionally and personally. They both represented the USA at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Apart from the 2008 Games, Johnson and Liukin also represented the country at the 2007 World Championships, collectively securing six medals for the US side.

In a recent interview with Access Hollywood, Johnson reflected on her relationship with Liukin, explaining how their bond, once strong, was tested by the pressure from fans and the public. She recalled them being close friends, and roommates during the Olympics until the public encouraged a rivalry.

The pressure led the gymnasts to keep their distance from each other for eight years following the Beijing Games.

"Nastia and I were best friends, training, and at the Olympics we were roommates," Johnson said. "We were 16 and 18 years old, we were kids."

Johnson added:

"I felt like we were under the spotlight and scrutiny so much to be each other’s top like biggest competitors and we had figured out on the competition floor how to be best friends and competitors. But when the world started kind of interjecting how we should handle it, they said we should also be each other’s worst enemies as well. We didn't speak for eight years."

Later, in the interview, Johnson mentioned that it wasn't until the boyfriends of both gymnasts at that time got frustrated with hearing them talk about each other, so much that they forced them to reconcile.

Shawn Johnson and Nastia Liukin had an incredible run at the 2008 Beijing Olympics

Former American gymnast Shawn Johnson performs her uneven bars routine in the Women's Team Finals at the National Indoor Stadium during the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, Japan. (Photo via Getty Images)

Shawn Johnson and Nastia Liukun majorly dominated artistic gymnastics events at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, collecting nine medals.

While Johnson secured four medals, including a gold and three silver, Liukin collected five - a gold, three silver, and one bronze medal. Johnson dominated the balance beam event with a total of 16.225 points, while Liukin followed her with 16.025 points.

In the same Games, they dominated the individual all-around event after Liukin bagged a total of 63.325 points and her teammate stood next to her on the podium in second place with 62.725 points.