I think that one of the gifts that God will give you this Christmas will be testimonies from young athletes whom you have never met but were inspired by you to pursue their goals of athletic excellence! God bless you and keep posting wonderful memories and words of faith 😇😇😇

Стил отличный парень ! Талантливый одаренный спортсмен! Желаю ему скорейшего выздоровления ! Надеюсь он не оставит дайвинг ! И будет передавать свой бесценный опыт молодым драйверам которые только начинают свою спортивную карьеру ! ❤❤❤❤❤

It was my utmost pleasure getting to watch you dive. I can't wait to see what the future holds for you. Wishing you the best of luck with your next surgery and a speedy recovery. <3

Dr. Phisitkul is in CNOS Dakota Dunes, SD. He did 2 of my surgeries, and he's incredible he can do miracles. He shaved bone spurs off the lateral end of my tibia that were growing like swords into my patella tendon. It was painful every time I bent my knees and i couldn't squat without incredible pain in my patella tendons from the sword like bone spurs on my tibia. he shaved them down and it was incredible to be able to sit in child's pose on my knees and not have to balance on the blades.

This really helps thanks

Wow! Didn't know you retired! You were great man! We all go thru different seasons of life. But, it can still be a great season! Good luck on your new journey!

Thank you so much for fighting through the pain to represent our country. I hope that you never leave the sport.

I have followed you since the start of my foot recovery journey. I am about to face my 6th surgery and was an equestrian before my injury. I crushed my foot when a horse fell on me in 2020. Following you has kept me strong and inspires me to keep going even if I won't be able to return to the sport. Thank you so much for sharing your journey. Please know that you are so strong, and I am grateful for you.

good luck, hope and pray everything ends well for you...

CADA, yup

Swimming and walking to Elvis is good.

stay strong your dedication and resilence is inspirational always remember the spriritual option I will remember you in my prayers.

Take care of you first. Pray that your foot gets better. You've already accomplished so much at such a young age.

So sad to hear of your retirement, but glad that you’re not giving up. You’ve got so much ahead of you. Also, thank you for introducing me to Jen and Bunji Doodles - I have a dog because of you - and I will never forget that either. I hope you continue to post videos.

Dear Steele, This is a beautifully done video. You are a beautiful human being with an amazingly talented body, you are authentic and loving and thankful. Your words carry the wisdom and 'knowing' that is rare for someone of your age. Know this: Your foot issues are signs from the Universe of Love that you need to close this chapter of your Life because a new, more challenging and fulfilling one needs to be written. You are so wise in responding positively to the Universe's beckoning, and this response will bring you healing, health, and happiness. Let me know of anything I might be able to do for you, because we are fellow Earth Travelers. I send you my Love...

My heart goes out to you. But all's not lost. Sure, competing is done, BUT you can always coach and mentor the next set of divers.

Speaking from experience: It's good to leave a sport when you feel you have something left in the tank. It's really difficult to know, but if you feel like you could do more, take that into the next thing. Injuries are terrible; they don't seem fair, but it's just the hand you've been dealt. The good thing is that you have everything to look forward to. Everything--except diving at the level you love--is possible. There's one thing you can't do, and 999 million left to do. You just don't know what's coming. Seek it out.

I’m so sorry. You are an incredible and beautiful person in every way. I’m so thankful you know that your worth is not in diving. You have accomplished monumental things! You are so loved. Thank you for sharing with us all. 🫂🕊️❤️‍🩹🙏🏻❤️

deeply moved

Congratulations and you are very loved! Man is not a material being...

You will survive. I know it's tough. I had to say goodbye to 50. years of sailing, 11 years of outrigger canoe, and 20 years of tennis. You have learned to be resourceful enough to allow it to unfold.

Steele, The Journey Changes For Us All. I Have Never Looked At Changes As A Good Bye. My Professional Life Was Many Changes. Every Change Was A Calling To Go Into, Always. Entertainment(WDW🐭🏰Theater Clubs🏪& Broadway🎭) Then Enlisted U.S.A.F.🦅Military (Missile Electronic Specialist) Viet Nam War & Honorable Discharge Purple Heart Silver Star Bravery! Then University📚👨‍🎓3 Degree's(Worked My Way Through)& Then Law🦅⚖🦅Enforcement🕴🚔👮‍♂Agent/Officer/EMT. I Excelled At Every Change. Then Was Hit☁💥& Runover In The Line Of Duty & Left For Dead. Steele, None Of Us Have A Perfect Life. We Have Amazing Great Days & Great Down Days! I Always Share, "Go Through The Door🚪That Is Open, It May Not Be Opened The Next Time🕰". In 2005 My Dad & Mom Were Both Diagnosed With Advanced Alzheimer's 2 Months Appart. I Moved Them Up Into My Home. 6 Months Later My Brother Was Diagnosed With Advanced C.O.P.D.. We Were Raised "Family Takes Care Of Family". Never Had One Issue With Caring For My UnConditional Loving💘 Family. We Were Never Co-Dependent. Dad Passed In My Arms 2015 & Momma 2016 & Brother 2017. I Was Permanently Disabled & Never Thought For 1 Minute⏱It Was Not Possible To Care For Them All 24/7. Grief Is Grief & It Sux's, There Is Never Any Closure. They Are Always In My Heart💘24/7. Steele, What Ever Calling You Have After Moving On In Your Previous Accomplished Swim & Dive Journey, Awaits You. Keep A Positive Outlook & Take Life 1 Minute⏱ At A Time, As There Are 1440 Minutes⏱In Every 24 Hours🕰& The Next Minute⏱Has Yet To Arrive. always, Tommy🤠

God has blessed you with a wonderful Wife, and hopefully soon to see a bunch of little Steel Johnsons running around in future videos. I have enjoyed all your Vlogs. May God continue to bless you in what ever you choose to do.

So sorry to hear this, but your making the right choice for you future. I hope you will continue to blog and share your life with us where ever that takes you.

Steele, I felt this entire video. I appreciate your vulnerability and boldness to post this. I feel like the walking away part of things is a very Christian experience, but none less heartbreaking. Praying for you. God bless you. Isaiah 49:23

We have followed your diving career since you were 15. Sorry to hear of your pain and retirement. Best wishes for you, your family, and your future.

Diving will always be with you - I hope you can heal your foot and enjoy a pain free exciting future 🥺

God bless and thank you for the memories. I pray for healing and future success.

Best of luck for your future!!

Steele, so sorry you have to retire from diving. You are an inspiring young man and I'm quite sure you'll go on to do amazing things with your life. I hope this next surgery relieves you of the physical pain you've been dealing with. Please continue to post blogs--I'll be watching for them.

Thank you for documenting all the years of making the Olympics, the surgery and trials afterwards, training again and hopefully continuing to do youtube videos and maybe a twitch stream here and there.

Have you been tested for Elose Danlose syndrome? Mention it to your Dr.

On a good note have you thought about coaching ❤

I understand your frustration I have issues with my ankles it never fully heals. Stay strong and positive

What a beautiful, inspiring man. I discovered you only today, so very proud of your journey, your gunsmith, your resilience, your strength and your love so deep for something. Wishing you a beautiful, beautiful safe and full recovery for your foot and a great story ahead. 🩷

Prayers for you. May your sorrow become joy.

A simple comment. I get it.

Don't be so dramatic. you are a man

HI ~ I don't know what to say ~ this is the first time I'm watched your vlog this morning and got me tearing up. I'm a deaf gentleman from New York ~ I can see your eyes fill up with tears and all the emotions you going through, I wish I could be there and hug you and I know how hard it is to make this announcement but hey look bright side you will have a good life ahead of you and you have your dreams and your goal right? Just follow your heart and your dreams! :) Stay healthy :) Davey from New York ❤🤟

Thanks, Steele, for sharing so much of your journey. I’ve followed you almost since you began your blogs. It’s been great fun and inspiring to be part of your journey. I am so grateful that I got to see you dive in person one time when you won the NCAA championship at the University of Minnesota. That day I got discharged from the Minneapolis Heart Institute and headed right over to the event, probably not one of the smartest things I have done. But I am so glad I got to see you dive in person. It has been hard to watch you suffer the past few years with all your foot surgeries and dashed hopes. You are such an incredibly strong person with a strong faith to sustain you. You have a wonderful help mate to lean on as you continue your journey through life. And you have many people who care about you, including me. All my best wishes, Bill

I grew up watching you and enjoyed every moment I watched that was documented. thank you for being such a light and for making diving so much fun to watch. rooting for you!!

Bravery comes in many colours. It is all about facing difficulties with composure and grace. You demonstrate all of these qualities every day consistently and authentically. Your courage in facing your reality is a testament to who you are as a person. I wish you only the best as you journey on your new lifepath. This is only the beginning of your next chapter. Take care.

Gave me tears to watch this. Well done video. As I mentioned in IG, Masters Diving is always around if get the urge for as basic as you want jumps/falls from boards/platform. Any age. Any dd. Any dive. ❤❤

Steele Your next chapter is gonna be a beautiful one sending you lots of love I hope I get a chance to meet you you’ve inspired me do much I’ve enjoyed watching you dive all I can say is thank you for being the amazing humble Olympian you are congratulations on all your accomplishments your truly a coaches dream and thank you.

I know where you’re coming from with the bad foot. In the last 10 years I’ve had my baby toe amputated, half the bones in my foot removed due to infection, and a lump removed. I’m now in the process of looking for a surgeon who can fix my ankle so my foot doesn’t lean when I walk. I also have 2 wounds on my foot that won’t heal.

All the best to you!

stunning and moving!

I know it’s extremely difficult to retire from something you love and dedicated your life to but I think your perspective is correct. Being able to run, lift and play with your future children will make this decision less painful. You’ve accomplished and experienced so much in your young life and you have the memories no one can ever take away. I wish you much comfort emotionally and physically. Best wishes.

WOW this is heartbreaking. So sorry for your foot pain that’s been going so long. I’ve followed your career watching you & David win that medal. I’ve seen the posts of surgeries & recovery wished you a recovery enough to be on a podium again. Take care look forward to seeing what the future brings.

Remember...YOU will always be a Purdue Boilermaker! Boiler Up !