Shawn Johnson

Sports Business Daily

Coca-Cola has signed eight athletes to be the face of its Olympic marketing around the ‘12 London Games. The signings represent an expansion of Coca-Cola’s traditional “six pack” marketing program and include a number of firsts for the company, which signed its first diver and first female boxer. Gold Medal-winning gymnast Shawn Johnson will again be part of the promotion after being one of the six athletes used in the lead up to the ’08 Beijing Games.

The “eight pack” for ’12 also includes diver David Boudia, wrestler Henry Cejudo, boxer Marlen Esparza, tennis player John Isner, paralympic swimmer Jessica Long, women’s soccer player Alex Morgan and hurdler David Oliver. The athletes will be featured at “Point of Sale” and in advertising that is developed around the London Games.

The eight athletes came together for the first time this week in Boston for a photo shoot. The pictures will be featured next year on special Coca-Cola in-store materials and advertising. (Atlanta Business Chronicle) (read more)

ESPN
May 17, 2011

Coca-Cola upgraded its “six pack” to an “eight pack” for the 2012 London Games.

The company signed eight athletes to be the face of its Olympics marketing campaign instead of the normal six selected for previous Games.

Gymnast Shawn Johnson will be part of the promotion again after doing so for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

The rest of the “eight pack” includes: diver David Boudia, wrestler Henry Cejudo, boxer Marlen Esparza, tennis player John Isner, paralympic swimmer Jessica Long, women’s soccer player Alex Morgan and hurdler David Oliver.

“There was an opportunity here to go with a statement and not go with the tried and true,” Coca-Cola director of Olympic Marketing Dina Gerson said, according to Sports Business Journal. “We felt it was a great time to diversify our portfolio and give new depth and breadth to different sports than we may have partnered with in the past.” (read more)

USA Today

Shawn Johnson and Nastia Liukin left their marks as two of the greatest gymnasts in U.S. history in the 2008 Olympics.

Johnson is preparing for another Olympic run for 2012 and in workouts has impressed a tough critic: USA Gymnastics women’s team coordinator Martha Karolyi. Johnson plans on competing in the Visa national championships in Minneapolis in August.

For Johnson, a comeback gave her incentive to recover from reconstructive surgery on her left knee. She injured it in a skiing accident in February 2010.

“I honestly missed the sport,” she said by phone. “I was a little bit lost. Now I’ve come so far, the Olympics seem like a possibility.”

Coca-Cola announced Monday the company again will sponsor Johnson, 19. “It adds a little bit of pressure,” she said of the endorsement. “I don’t want to disappoint them. But they’re also my support system.”

Four years ago Johnson was a fresh face on the gymnastics scene who pounded out routines with gusto and spoke enthusiastically about her chances of making the Olympic team. In Beijing, she won a silver medal in all-around. Johnson also won gold on balance beam, silver in floor exercise and a team silver medal. (read more)

ESPNW: Features & Profiles

Fame followed Shawn Johnson’s success at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, and now she’s back in the gym, training for a shot at London.

Shawn Johnson was one of the best gymnasts in the world in 2008: She won four medals at the Olympics, including the all-around silver and balance beam gold. And she had plenty of post-Beijing perks to keep her busy — partnerships and sponsorships with big-name brands like Nike, McDonald’s, Kraft, Coca-Cola and more, a winning season on “Dancing with the Stars” and even an official Shawn Johnson Day in Iowa. But last May, Johnson headed back to the gym, aiming to make the Olympic squad again in London. She talked to espnW about her training, her “new” body, and why the Olympic dream is so addictive. (Read the full article here on ESPNW.com)

espnW: What made you decide to return to gymnastics?

Shawn Johnson: I realized one day that I really, really missed it. I missed being considered an athlete and having that competitive drive, and missed having something to work for every day. I’d taken two and a half years away from the sport and was out of shape. I wanted to get back to where I was in 2008. I wanted to feel the pride that comes from competing for your country, and I wanted to hopefully go back to the Olympics and experience that whole Olympic feeling again.

espnW: Did you ever think you’d come back for 2012?

SJ: Never! I told myself after 2008 that I was done for good. But they say you can’t keep a gymnast away from her sport.

espnW: How is it different this time around than in 2008?

SJ: It’s 100 percent different. I’m a different person. Last time I was 16 years old, and I was just doing it as an after-school activity. This time around I’m older, more mature, and I know what goes into it. I own it now. I’m my own coach, with [coach Liang] Chow on the side of course, but I’m doing everything for me. It’s not just for fun this time. (read more)

Universal Sports

Team USA supporters in Greenwich, Conn. were treated to an evening with Olympians. Gymnast Shawn Johnson, short track speedskater Apolo Ohno, and hurdler Lolo Jones were on hand at the United States Olympic Committee’s fundraising event, where donors were able to chat with the elite athletes, take photos, and bring home autographs.

As the reception came to a close, all three Olympians took a moment to catch up with UniversalSports.com about training – whether it be for the upcoming season, the 2012 London Olympics, or a marathon.

Video- Checking in with Shawn Johnson: Shawn Johnson talked with us about her comeback and her plans to compete this summer.

(read more)