Shawn Johnson

Gymnastics

Currently a member of the Women's Sports Foundation's Board of Trustees, Shawn Johnson’s dream was to compete for the USA at the 2008 Olympics. Shawn won her first Senior National Championships in August, 2007, followed by World AA Champion, with the largest point differentiation against some of the best gymnasts in the world in both competitions. In June 2008, Shawn reclaimed her title as she became the 2008 National Champion and was named to the 2008 U.S. Olympic Gymnastics Team. At the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China, Shawn earned an individual gold medal in the balance beam and three silver medals in the individual all-around, floor exercise and team categories.

Career Highlights 

•  Four-time Olympic medalist
• Five-time Pan American Games medalist 
•  Three-time World Championship gold medalist 
•  Seven-time Visa Championships medalist 
•  2009 Sullivan Award winner 
•  2009 ESPY winner for Best Female Olympian 
•  Women’s Sports Foundation Athlete Advisory Panel member

 

Awards

In April 2009, Shawn was named the 79th Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Sullivan Award recipient, one of the most prestigious honors in amateur sports. Shawn became the youngest ever contestant on ABC’s "Dancing with the Stars," where she danced her way to becoming the Champion of season eight. Along with her many awards which included a 2009 ESPY for “Best Female Olympian” and “Best Female Athlete” in 2008 Johnson has been recognized in a global scale too.

On September 7, 2007 Johnson received the “Longines Prize for Elegance” in Stuttgart, Germany. The honor is awarded to athletes who have been recognized to “demonstrate remarkable elegance in the course of an international competition at the world level.”

Philanthropic Work

 
Shawn is involved in a number of philanthropic activities. Johnson’s philanthropic works includes walking shelter dogs and working with animal and children’s charities, as well as working with cancer charities, particularly those that affect women and children.

Shawn is also involved in programs that help build good overall character amongst the youth across the country. Shawn hopes to attend an Ivy League school. For now, she is focusing on preparing for the 2012 Olympic Games in London. She would like to study medicine and to become a gymnastics coach someday.