Quick Chat: Shawn Johnson
Saturday June 21, 2008
 Shawn Johnson Photo © Al Bello / Getty Images |
How do you feel, now that the Olympics are so close?
I don’t know if I let myself feel it, just because it’s a really scary thought. I don’t think I even let myself feel that this is the Olympic Trials. I remember watching Olympic Trials in 2004 and thinking Oh my gosh, that’s the biggest meet of their lives.
I can hardly believe that I’m even here. It’s just crazy how far things have gotten. To know that I’m so close to securing a spot on the team -- pinch me, it feels like a dream!
Have you seen your face on Coca-Cola boxes yet?
It’s so weird, because I see them in Des Moines, but then I think, Well that’s just Des Moines. At Championships I actually saw it in one of their grocery stores, and I was like They actually have it in Boston! It hadn’t hit me that they actually have it all around the US. It was really shocking.
Your gym (Chow’s Gymnastics) was affected by the flooding in Iowa, and was closed for some of this past week…
Yes, this week has been hard. But, honestly I just try not to think about it. Everything happens for a reason. That’s what I live by, and it can only make me stronger.
(With a big grin) The gym opened up again today and is completely back to normal. Of course we have no drywall, and other stuff like that, but we have all of our equipment and our gym is open and running. Our pit won’t be usable for awhile.
How do you feel about your gymnastics, with Beijing two months away?
I definitely don’t feel like I’m at my peak or my top shape yet. There are so many things I can fix and correct, so I feel like I have a ways to go. But I feel like we’re on the right path and in the right place. I want to work on my handstands and the dismount on bars, and the little fine details of everything.
Next: Shawn Johnson Photo Gallery
Comments
I love Shawn! She is very humble, and just seems like a nice girl!
Have you seen some of her interviews? She doesn’t seem to great at people skills. The only thing going for her is that smile of hers.
I love shawn johnson.I watch videos of shawn.If I could meet her it would make my day.She does good in balance beam all the time.