By Nancy Stockdale, Des Moines Register

Beijing, China - Doug and Teri Johnson scooted from their seats down to the front row and leaned over the rail to snap photos as their daughter, Shawn, marched to the podium Sunday to collect her third silver medal of the Beijing Olympics.She spotted them among the 18,000 at National Indoor Stadium, and parents and child exchanged heartfelt looks.

It was a magic moment for the West Des Moines family, not diminished by the fact that Johnson, 16, finished behind Romania’s Sandra Izbasa in the women’s gymnastics floor exercise final.

“It’s a win,” Teri Johnson said. “She came out and gave the fight of her life. I’ve never seen her do better.”

Johnson, who also has team and all-around silver medals, is now one of the most decorated U.S. gymnasts in Olympic history, and has a chance to add a medal in the balance beam final Tuesday. Only two U.S. gymnasts have won more than three total Olympic medals. Shannon Miller won seven in two Olympics, and Mary Lou Retton won five in one.

“Oh my God, I can’t believe we’re here, much less on the medal stand,” Teri Johnson said. “I’m just numb.” “She’s given everything she had,” Doug Johnson said.

Johnson was upbeat about her latest silver medal but craves more. “I really want to go for gold on beam,” she said.

She gets a day off today and will spend it showing her parents around the Olympic Village.

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