ABC News reports:
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg became the first woman to lie in state at the U.S. Capitol Friday. She may also be the only person to lie in state who has had a mourner do calisthenics in front of their casket.
Bryant Johnson, Ginsburg’s longtime trainer, dropped and gave the Justice a quick trio of push-ups when it was his turn to approach the flag-draped coffin shortly after 10:30 a.m. ABC7 spoke with Johnson last year about his relationship with Justice Ginsburg, who he trained for more than 20 years.
She was known to leave high-level dinners to make sure she got her workout in. “I looked and said ‘Justice, you left the president to come do the workout?’ Johnson explained. “And [she] said ‘Yes, gotta do my pushups, gotta do my planks and my workout.’ I was like ‘Yes, nice!’”
#RBG’s trainer Bryant Johnson does pushups before her casket. pic.twitter.com/lpjdarsZqY
— Lauren Peikoff (@laurenpeikoff) September 25, 2020
and, it’s this, of all things, that makes me cry
— Joyce Alene (@JoyceWhiteVance) September 25, 2020
As a personal trainer I can relate to the strong relationships that you develop with your clients over the years. They become like family This made my heart sing. ❤️
— Aaron Guy (@AaronGuyPT) September 25, 2020
Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s trainer Bryant Johnson did a few pushups next to her casket in the US Capitol.
RBG often called him the most important person in her life. pic.twitter.com/vxBLjUMDW1
— Alexis Benveniste (@apbenven) September 25, 2020