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Shawn Johnson Official Facebook Fan Page

5.5.12

Shawn Johnnson Official Facebook Fan Page

Announcing the launch of Shawn Johnson’s new, official Facebook Fan Page!

Check out www.facebook.com/shawnjohnsonofficialfanpage for the latest pictures, news, updates and more! (read more)

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Weekly Workout: Coach Chow’s Challenge

5.4.12

NBC 13 (May 2012) Weekly Workout- Coach Chow's Challenge

NBC Des Moines, WHOtv

Welcome to Chow’s Gym in West Des Moines, home of Olympic gymnast, Shawn Johnson and Olympic hopeful, Gabby Douglas.

“I’ll make sure you have a good experience today,” says Liang Chow with a laugh.

Chow is the patriarch of this family of sprites.  He watches closely as they stretch, twirl and tumble in ways that seem to defy the limits of the human body.

“Gymnastics is the only sport that works the entire body.  Every little muscle will be sore tomorrow?” Chow says, again with a laugh.

Our muscles begin to ache just watching the workout.  The only thing scarier than taking part, is Chow’s suggestion for apparel.

“I have two leotards for you.”

That is about as likely as us doing a back flip on the balance beam.  But we can be coaxed into a warm-up, led by Shawn.  At the age of 20, she’s considered the grandma of the group.

“Yeah, I kind of coach, mentor, I’m the best friend.  I play all those roles at the moment,” says Shawn.

Shawn and Gabby will soon compete for a spot on the Olympic team.  Chow recognizes a lot of work remains.

“This is a challenging one, because team USA expectations are very high,” says Chow.  “They’re there for the gold, not just there for participation.” (read more)

Comments (0) | Permalink | Posted in: Gabrielle Douglas, Gymnastics, Liang Qiao, Press, Shawn Johnson |

For Julie Zetlin, London is About More Than Medals

5.2.12

5-1-2012 USA Today- For Julie Zetlin, London is about more than medals (Video)

As part of USA TODAY Sports’ ’100 Olympic hopefuls in 100 Days’ series, prospective U.S. Olympians give their thoughts on the Games in their own words.  2012 Olympic rhythmic gymnastics qualifier Julie Zetlin, gives us the inside scoop.

USA Today, London 2012

Before auditioning for a Welch’s grape juice TV commercial, a 4-year-old Julie Zetlin heard the producers were looking for a kid with dimples.

“I didn’t have any dimples, so my mom said, ‘You’ll figure something out,’” Zetlin says. “I went in and smiled and pressed my fingers to my cheeks, and I got the part!”

Such ingenuity and improvisation carried the now 21-year-old Zetlin to an Olympic berth in London, where she’ll be the lone American rhythmic gymnast.

Unlike many of her international peers, Zetlin practices gymnastics just once a day, when the Catholic school in Darnestown, Md., where she trains isn’t hosting youth basketball or volleyball teams. She tempers her practice due to multiple knee surgeries, yet unleashes world-class leaping ability in competition.

Zetlin, who put off college to compete on the world stage, plans on leaving Maryland for Los Angeles and pursuing a career as an actress, but not before representing her country in London.
(read more)

Comments (0) | Permalink | Posted in: Gymnastics, Julie Zetlin, Press |

Gymnast Shawn Johnson is Hopeful but Realistic About her Return

4.26.12

U.S. gymnast Shawn Johnson hopes to be competing for gold at the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London. (Scott Harvey, Getty Images, October 24, 2011)

By Diane Pucin, Los Angeles Times

The 20-year-old who won four medals at 2008 Olympics attempts comeback after layoff and knee injury from ski accident, but she knows competition from big group of younger girls will be tough.

Since she won four medals at the 2008 Olympics, including a gold in the balance beam, Shawn Johnson has retired from her sport, written a book, won the mirror ball trophy on “Dancing With the Stars,” torn up her knee while skiing and had reconstructive surgery.

Oh, yeah, and she’s doing gymnastics again.

Johnson, 20, who came to the Beijing Games as defending world all-around champion and Olympic favorite, accepted her silver all-around medal, one rung below American teammate Nastia Liukin, with both a smile and tears.

Now Johnson is willing to accept failure of a more dramatic sort.

“At the end of the day, I don’t know what to expect,” Johnson said by telephone from her home training gym in West Des Moines, Iowa. “There are a lot of girls out there, a lot of younger girls and it’s a lot harder. I have good days and bad days.

“My biggest goal, honestly, is to help the USA win team gold. It’s not about me.”

Johnson said that if her help is just showing her work ethic in practice gyms, that would be OK. (read more)

Comments (0) | Permalink | Posted in: Gymnastics, Press, Shawn Johnson |

Shawn Johnson and Mom, Teri Partner With Bounty

4.25.12

Gold Medal Gymnast Shawn Johnson and Mom Teri Help Unite "Bring It" Moms Everywhere (Photo: Business Wire) (P&G)

Gold Medal Gymnast Shawn Johnson and Mom Teri Help Unite “Bring It” Moms Everywhere

Mother/Daughter Duo Partners with Bounty To Celebrate The Mess Behind The Glory, Asking Moms To Share Their Stories At Facebook.Com/Bounty

Procter & Gamble

In collaboration with Bounty, Olympic gold-medal gymnast Shawn Johnson and her mother Teri Johnson are cheering on “Bring It” moms everywhere, who not only accept, but encourage the mess behind the glory. As a mother and daughter duo who knew first-hand how a family’s support and celebration of the messes in life could help Shawn leap to the forefront of the women’s USA Gymnastics team, the Johnson’s and Bounty proudly champion these fearless, uninhibited moms. These are the moms who don’t sweat the moments when spills and messes occur, but instead celebrate the bumps, bruises and spills that can help unlock their child’s full potential and make strides towards their dreams.

Inspired by these women and by the Olympic Games spirit to which mom’s support may lead, Bounty is announcing the “Mess Behind the Glory” Contest. The contest asks moms everywhere to share their “Bring It” stories and photos capturing the playful acrobatic moments in the home that sometimes have messy results.

Bounty will reward ten such moms with their own Ultimate London 2012 Olympic Games viewing party as well as provide their aspiring athletes with a special prize to help ensure they reach their goals. The contest, which kicked off on Tuesday, April 24, asks moms to share 60 – 90 second videos describing their child’s athletic dreams and how they let them “Bring It”! Shawn and Teri Johnson will help select the ten most inspiring stories and, in addition to an Olympic Games viewing party, they will also receive a year’s worth supply of Bounty and a $5K grant to help their children reach their goals in the form of lessons or training equipment. The deadline for entries is Monday, July 2 and the winners will be announced within two weeks of the deadline.

“We were so excited to be on team Bounty and show what it really

[caption id="attachment_3569" align="alignright" width="192" caption="Gold Medal Gymnast Shawn Johnson and Mom Teri Help Unite "Bring It" Moms Everywhere (Photo: Business Wire) (P&G)"][/caption]

means to be a ‘Bring It’ mother-daughter duo,” said Teri Johnson, mother of Olympic gold-medalist and gymnast Shawn Johnson. “In order to best encourage and support my daughter and her dreams, I’ve always given her the green-light to give it her all – even if that means having to tackle a few messes along the way! I am proud to be and support the “Bring It” mom in all of us!” (read more)

Comments (0) | Permalink | Posted in: Gymnastics, Press, Shawn Johnson |