At 16, Shawn Johnson has established herself as a gymnast to watch at the Beijing Games. Arguably the only athlete in the world to have three "G" level skills (most difficult on the Code of Points scale) Johnson is an inspiration to any gymnast. On uneven bars, her double twisting double layout dismount is a G level and on balance beam her full twisting double tuck dismount and tucked double twisting double tumbling floor pass both rank at the G level. On vault, she is one of three women in the world to complete a 2 ½ twisting layout Yurchenko.
Named all around world champion in 2007, Johnson’s life didn’t start out so promising. Born with an Apgar score of 0, she quickly recovered her strength and never looked back. At the time most kids are learning to take their first steps, she was climbing in and out of her crib. At three, she was placed in gymnastics to help channel some of her excess energy. She was fortunate to have the then just opened Chow Gymnastics and Dance Studio close to home and got in just as they were forming a team. Her first coach Liang Qiao (Chow), former Chinese National World Team Co-Captain and XIV World Cup Master Champion in All-Around, is this year’s American Olympic Team coach.
Johnson won the 2006 U.S. Junior National All-Around with a score higher than any senior elite competitor that year. In 2007 she entered the senior division and won every competition. She was the champion at the 2007 Tyson American Cup, won four gold medals and the All-Around at the 2007 Pan American Games, and was named National Champion at the 2007 Visa National Championships.
In her home state of Iowa, October 17 was named “Shawn Johnson Day.” She still lives in West Des Moines, Iowa with her parents where she trains and attends public high school like any normal teenager. She trains fewer hours than most elite gymnasts so that she can attend school with her friends vs. hiring a private tutor. Her parents and coach feel it’s important for her to have a life outside of gymnastics and have time for other interests and activities. A junior come fall 2008, Johnson is on the Honor Roll and considers English her favorite subject. She enjoys writing and art as ways to express her creativity. Learn more about Shawn Johnson on her website www.shawnjohnson.net.
