Check out photographs of Shawn Johnson in action
Shawn Johnson had one of the best rookie seasons ever recorded in 2007. In her first year as a senior competitor, she won the all-around at the American Cup, Pan American Games, US National Championships and World Championships.
Johnson led the 2008 US Olympic team to a silver medal, then won silvers individually in the all-around finals and floor finals. She finally struck gold in the beam finals.
Cool Skills:
Johnson has done some of the toughest skills being performed in gymnastics. She has competed a 2.5-twisting Yurchenko, a standing full (back flip with a full twist) on beam, a tucked double-double (two flips with two twists) on floor, and a double-twisting double layout off of bars.
Comeback for 2012:
In May of 2010, Shawn Johnson announced she would officially make a run at the 2012 Olympic Games. Still recovering from an ACL and meniscus tear in her knee suffered during a skiing accident, Johnson's first competition back was the 2011 US Classic. She competed bars and beam at Classics, and added vault at the 2011 US nationals. In September, Johnson was named as the second alternate to the world team, and was given a spot on the Pan American Games team. She helped the Pan Am team to a gold medal, and won an individual silver medal on bars.
On June 3, 2012 Johnson announced she was retiring from gymnastics, and taking herself out of contention for the Olympic team.
Did You Know?:
In Iowa, October 17th was deemed “Shawn Johnson Day” by Governor Chet Culver. Johnson has also been pictured on McDonald's cups and Coca-Cola boxes.
Johnson won the AAU Sullivan Award and was the champion on the eighth season of the hit reality show Dancing with the Stars. (Watch her on DWTS and see full coverage of this.)
Johnson won the AAU Sullivan Award and was the champion on the eighth season of the hit reality show Dancing with the Stars. (Watch her on DWTS and see full coverage of this.)
Personal Info:
Born on January 19, 1992 in Des Moines, IA, Johnson is the only child of Doug and Teri Johnson.
While training for the Olympics, Johnson attended Chow’s Gymnastics, and was coached by Liang Chow and Liwen Zhuang.
Johnson’s Favorites:
While training for the Olympics, Johnson attended Chow’s Gymnastics, and was coached by Liang Chow and Liwen Zhuang.
Johnson’s Favorites:
- School Subject: English
- Hobbies: scrapbooking and walking dogs at a local animal shelter
- Gymnast: Kim Zmeskal
- Athlete in Another Sport: Lance Armstrong
- Food: steak and chicken kabobs, strawberries
- Book: You Go Girl!, by Kim Doren and Charlie Jones
Gymnastics Results:
International:
- 2011 Pan American Games: 1st team; 2nd bars
- 2008 Olympics: 2nd team; 2nd all-around; 1st beam; 2nd floor
- 2008 Tyson American Cup: 2nd all-around; 1st vault, 2nd bars, 1st beam; 1st floor
- 2007 World Championships: 1st team; 1st all-around; 1st floor
- 2007 Pan American Games: 1st team; 1st all-around; 1st bars; 1st beam; 2nd floor
- 2007 Tyson American Cup: 1st all-around
- 2006 Junior Pan American Games: 1st team; 1st all-around; 2nd bars; 1st beam; 2nd floor
- 2006 Pacific Alliance Championships (Jr. Division): 1st team; 1st all-around; 1st vault; 2nd beam; 1st floor
- 2011 Visa Championships (US nationals): 6th bars; 4th beam
- 2011 US Classic: 11th bars; 16th beam
- 2008 US Olympic Trials: 1st all-around; 2nd vault; 4th bars; 1st beam; 1st floor
- 2008 Visa Championships (US nationals): 1st all-around; 2nd beam; 1st floor
- 2007 Visa Championships (US nationals): 1st all-around; 3rd bars; 1st beam; 1st floor
- 2006 Visa Championships (US nationals - Jr. Division): 1st all-around; 1st vault; 2nd bars; 1st beam; 1st floor
- 2006 US Classic: 1st all-around; 2nd vault; 3rd beam (tie); 2nd floor
- 2005 Visa Championships (US nationals - Jr. Division): 10th all-around; 4th vault
- 2005 US Classic: 3rd all-around; 3rd beam
