Athletes

Shawn Johnson is a four-time 2008 Olympic medalist, a five-time Pan American Games medalist, a three-time world championships gold medalist and a seven-time Visa championships medalist. Johnson won a gold medal at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing on the balance beam, securing top place due to the difficulty of her routine. Johnson also captured three silver medals at the Olympic Games—in the all-around individual competition, the floor exercise and the team event. During the 2008 season, Johnson was undefeated until the American Cup, where she finished in second behind teammate Nastia Liukin after attempting a new vault with an extremely high difficulty level that only a handful of gymnasts worldwide can do, a Yurchenko with 2 1/2 twists. At nationals and Olympic Trials, Johnson nailed the vault on both days of the competition and secured gold in the all-around event.

In 2007, Johnson’s first senior season, she went undefeated in the all-around at the senior level. Johnson won the 2007 American Cup all-around title, the all-around at the Pan American Games and the U.S. national title. She dominated the all-around at the 2007 worlds, winning the gold medal by more than a point, and won two other gold medals on the individual floor exercise and with the U.S. team.

Johnson burst onto the gymnastics scene in 2006, making her mark at the U.S. nationals, where she won the junior title with a score that topped the entire women’s field—seniors included. Throughout her career, Johnson has been known for her power and her amplitude on all of her skills.  (9/08)