Shawn Johnson

espnW.com: Athlete’s Life- Shawn Johnson Rehabbing, Eyeing London

By Shawn Johnson

My coach, Liang Chow, had one rule while I was training for the 2008 Olympics: no skiing. I could do anything I wanted outside the gym, he said, except ski. Naturally, when the Olympics were over and I was able to take a break from high-level gymnastics, I told my parents I wanted to learn to ski.

We celebrated my 18th birthday, in January 2010, with a skiing trip to Colorado. On the final run of our last day, our group stood at the top of the mountain and looked at two different paths: a difficult black diamond trail or an intermediate blue run. My friends decided to ski the black diamond, but I was tired and lacked confidence to make it down the more difficult hill. I chose the intermediate run. Halfway down, I hit a patch of ice and I fell. It wasn’t a bad fall, but the binding holding my left foot to the ski didn’t unfasten. My ski caught in the snow with my left leg still attached while I rolled over my knee. (read more)

Shawn Johnson will be blogging for espnW throughout her training for the 2012 Olympics in London this summer! Check out her first post, espnW.com: Athlete’s Life- Shawn Johnson Rehabbing, Eyeing London. Come back in March for more on her journey! (read more)

For Immediate Release
January 24, 2012

SHAWN JOHNSON TO WRITE MEMOIR WITH TYNDALE HOUSE PUBLISHERS
BOOK BY OLYMPIC GYMNAST, DANCING WITH THE STARS WINNER TO RELEASE JUNE 2012

Carol Stream, IL –Four-time Olympic medalist and Dancing with the Stars winner Shawn Johnson will release a memoir, Winning Balance: What I’ve Learned So Far about Love, Faith, and Living Your Dreams, with Tyndale House Publishers, the Illinois-based publisher announced today. The book, which is scheduled to release June 5, 2012, comes as Johnson is attempting an Olympic comeback after a potentially career-ending ski injury in 2010. The book will provide an intimate look into Johnson’s life, including her remarkably balanced upbringing in Iowa, her quest for gold at the 2008 Olympic Games, her hard work and determination in the face of adversity after the Olympics, her turn on Dancing with the Stars, and what she is learning as she prepares for a possible comeback at the 2012 Olympics in London. The book will feature a comprehensive marketing and publicity campaign. (read more)

ESPNW

Olympic gold medalist Shawn Johnson makes ESPNW’s list of “American Women to Watch at the 2011 Pan Am Games.”

Some U.S. athletes to watch at the Pan American Games in Guadalajara:

Shawn Johnson, gymnastics. The Des Moines, Iowa, native, who won silver in the all-around and gold on balance beam at the 2008 Olympics, retired from the sport after the Beijing Games and went on to win “Dancing With The Stars.” Now 19 and attempting a comeback, the Pan Ams will be her first major international competition since the Beijing Olympics. (read more)

Bleacher Report

The rural state of Iowa isn’t a breeding ground for athletes like Florida or California; however, it boasts a solid top 10 list of star power with recognizable, household names.  Among the Top 10 Best Professional Athletes Born in Iowa, is Olympic gold medalist Shawn Johnson.

Shawn Johnson

Born: Des Moines
Sport: Gymnastics
Notable Achievements: Four Olympic medals: one gold, three silver.

In addition to winning four Olympic medals in 2008, Shawn Johnson was able to capture seven total gold medals in 2007 over various major gymnastics competitions.

She won three gold medals at 2007′s World Championships and four at the Pan American games in that same year.

Johnson has a chance to increase her already impressive resume if she can make it onto the United States’ 2012 Olympic roster. She is currently an alternate on the World Championships team, but she’s hoping to come back from a 2010 ACL tear and compete in the Olympics next summer.

Even if she can’t make the squad, her list of accomplishments is more than worthy of putting her on this list. (read more)