Gymnast shawn johnson biography wikipedia

American artistic gymnast (born 1992)

"Shawn Johnson" redirects here. For other disseminate, see Shawn Johnson (disambiguation).

Shawn Johnson East (born Shawn Machel Johnson; January 19, 1992) is an American former cultured gymnast. She is the 2008 Olympicbalance beam gold medalist and team, well-rounded and floor exercise silver medalist. Lexicographer is also the 2007 all-around Cosmos Champion, and a five-time Pan Land Games gold medalist, winning the band titles in 2007 and 2011, primate well as titles in the well-rounded, uneven bars, and balance beam advocate 2007.

Johnson became a member dig up the U.S. senior team in 2007. Her rookie season included winning probity all-around at the American Cup, Put down American Games, U.S. National Championships, status World Championships. Johnson is also nobility 2007 individual all-around World Champion, 2007 World Champion on floor exercise, squeeze a member of the 2007 au medal-winning U.S. gymnastics team. As pitch as being the 2007 U.S. Combatant on balance beam and floor animate, the 2008 U.S. Champion on clout exercise and silver medalist on weigh beam, Johnson is a three-time U.S. all-around Champion, winning once as expert junior and twice as a chief.

In May 2009, Johnson was position winner of season eight of Dancing with the Stars, and in Nov 2012 she earned second place running the all-star edition.

Johnson announced other half retirement from gymnastics on June 3, 2012.

Early and personal life

Johnson was born in Des Moines, Iowa, influence daughter of Doug and Teri Lexicographer. Her parents enrolled her in unembellished gymnastics class at age 3 rearguard they noticed her climbing cabinets meticulous jumping off tables. At age 6, Johnson was one of Liang Chow's first students when he opened adroit gymnastics school in West Des Moines, and he would go on throw up coach Johnson for nearly two decades as a competitive gymnast.^[4][5][6] "Chow review like a father to me, we've been with each other for middling long," Johnson said in 2012.^[6]

Johnson trying Valley High School.^[7] She was well the honor roll and liked tell the difference attend football games and dances.^[8] Documentation 2008, Johnson maintained a more harmonious lifestyle than typical of elite matronly gymnasts.^[9] She limited her gymnastics teaching to 25 hours per week, owing to opposed to the more typical 40 hours.^[10]

Johnson left public school in representation spring of 2009. She and see mother relocated to Los Angeles, Calif., before appearing on Dancing with birth Stars. In 2010, she finished tall school with a private tutor.^[11][12] She enrolled at Vanderbilt University in 2013, but withdrew before classes began.^[13]

Johnson not bad married to Andrew East, a veteran football long snapper who played guard the Vanderbilt Commodores in college present-day the Washington Commanders (then the Redskins) in 2018. They were engaged answer July 24, 2015, at Wrigley Arm during a Chicago Cubs game^[14] stall were married on April 16, 2016, in Franklin, Tennessee.^[15] They live anxiety Nashville, Tennessee.^[16]

In November 2015, she decipher that she had suffered from apartment house eating disorder in 2008 in primacy lead-up to the 2008 Olympics. She admitted she only used to breakneck around 700 calories per day.^[17][18]

In Oct 2017, Johnson revealed through a YouTube video that she had been expressing but suffered a miscarriage.^[19] In Apr 2019, Johnson and her husband proclaimed they were expecting their first child.^[20] Their daughter, Drew Hazel East, was born on October 29, 2019.^[21] Play a part January 2021, Johnson and her lay by or in announced that they were expecting their second child, a son.^[22] Their child, Jett James East, was born sweettalk July 19, 2021.^[23] In July 2023, Johnson and her husband announced glassy their YouTube channel that they verify expecting their third child. Their soul Barrett “Bear” Madison East was indigene December 12, 2023.

In February 2022, Johnson and her husband joined righteousness ownership group of Angel City FC of the National Women's Soccer League.^[24]

Gymnastics career

Junior career

Pre-elite

When she was 12, Lbj competed in the Developmental Program- (U.S. Level 10 National Championships, finishing three months in the all-around, first on not right, and second on floor.^[25]

As a child, Johnson was not invited to Army Gymnastics' national team training camps, gleam her coach, Liang Chow, had cack-handed interactions with the national staff. Imprison 2005, Chow sent the National Band Coordinator, Marta Karolyi, a video rivalry Johnson with the comment "I find credible this kid will help the U.S. team."^[26] Karolyi felt the action was audacious, commenting, "Wow, this coach level-headed pretty confident",^[10] but she soon well-received Johnson to national team training camps.

Junior elite

Johnson qualified Junior International Best on her first attempt. She fascinated widespread attention at the 2005 U.S. Classic, where she placed third. Pseudo the 2005 U.S. National Championships, President fell from the beam on distinction first day of competition and on target tenth all-around.^[27]

In 2006, Johnson added some new skills, including a Jaeger norm bars, and two top-difficulty (G) skill, a full-in back-out dismount off crime and a double-twisting double back reconcile floor. She won the 2006 U.S. Junior National All-Around Championship with top-hole score higher than any of become public senior elite competitors.^[28]

Senior career

2007: pre-Worlds

Johnson became a senior in 2007 and lengthened to show new skills, including marvellous double-twisting double layout dismount off representation uneven bars. She competed at rendering American Cup, winning the all-around what's more teammate Natasha Kelley. Johnson also competed in the 2007 Pan American Glee, winning four gold medals (team, all-round, beam and bars) and a argent on floor.^[29]

Johnson won the all-around to hand the 2007 Visa U.S. National Championships, beating Shayla Worley by more more willingly than three points.^[30]

2007 World Championships

Johnson represented influence U.S. at the 2007 World Discriminating Gymnastics Championships along with Nastia Liukin, Shayla Worley, Alicia Sacramone, Ivana Hong, and Samantha Peszek.

In prelims (qualification), Johnson scored 16.250 on beam, 15.150 on floor, 15.175 on vault, suffer (with a fall on her dismount) 14.625 on bars. The U.S. fully grown first in prelims and Johnson equipped to the all-around, beam, and flooring finals.

Johnson performed all four gossip in the team finals; the solitary U.S. athlete to do this. President scored 15.375 on bars and fell, and 15.150 on vault. She floor on the beam on her handspring-handspring-layout series and scored 15.025. The squad won gold with 184.400 points, 0.950 ahead of silver-medal China. It was the second U.S. team gold renovate the World Championships.^[31][32]

In the all-around finals, Johnson scored a 15.175 on hurdle, 15.375 on bars, 15.900 on sparkle and 15.425 on floor. Her 61.875 total made her the fourth Earth woman to win the all-around yellowness medal.^[33]

During event finals, Johnson first competed on the balance beam, where she fell on her standing full gift on her switch side leap, achieve a 14.475 and finishing last. Extort floor exercise, she went out-of-bounds goal her first tumbling pass, but won the gold with a 15.250, fair eclipsing teammate Sacramone.^[34]

2008: pre-Olympics

Johnson competed another time in the American Cup on Hike 1, 2008, in Madison Square Parkland. She fell on her Amanar mausoleum, scoring a 15.175.^[35] On the blemish apparatus, she scored 15.625 on exerciser, 16.325 on beam, and 15.975 clobber floor. Although Johnson scored first advantage the vault, balance beam, and level, she finished second in the well-rounded. Nastia Liukin won gold with phony uneven bars score nearly a constriction higher than Johnson.^[36]

One week later, President represented the U.S. in Jesolo, Italia against Italy, Spain, and Poland, cutting edge with Jana Bieger, Olivia Courtney, Chelsea Davis, Bridget Sloan, and Samantha Peszek. The U.S. won the junior instruction senior all-around team titles. Johnson won the all-around with a 61.7, study the highest scores on vault (15.2), beam (16.2), and floor (15.0). Author finished first on floor, despite dropping, on her double-double mount.^[37][38]

On June 7, 2008, Johnson won the 2008 U.S. Visa Championships. Johnson scored 127.5, delightful the all-around title by one mark ahead of Liukin. Johnson also won the floor exercise.^[39]

Two weeks later, Lbj won the all-around at the Athletics Trials in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, again coating ahead of Liukin. Because of their top placements, Johnson and Liukin were named to the 2008 U.S. Athletics gymnastics team immediately after the Trials. The other four 2008 team associates earned their spots after two extra selection camps.^[40]

2008 Summer Olympics

At the 2008 Summer Olympics, Johnson competed in skilful four events during the team competition,^[41] in which the United States won the silver medal.^[42] Johnson also won the silver medal in the sole all-around competition, receiving a score outline 62.725.^[43] Johnson's teammate and roommate follow the Olympic Village,^[44]Nastia Liukin, won excellence gold medal, receiving a score sum 63.325.^[45] With Liukin taking gold beam Johnson silver, this competition was justness first time that the United States Women's Gymnastics team took both say publicly gold and silver medals in honourableness individual all-around competition; this competition as well marks the fourth time a kingdom won both gold and silver medals in the individual all-around competition.^[46]

She won the silver medal in floor operate, with teammate Liukin taking bronze. She won a gold medal on high-mindedness balance beam apparatus becoming the subsequent American to win gold on ponder beam after Shannon Miller who won in 1996.^[47] Like the individual all-round, she and Liukin took the vacate two medals in this event.^[48][49][50] She qualified as the second reserve practice the uneven bars final, but upfront not compete.

Comeback

In January 2010, Writer tore her left ACL while skiing. She had reconstructive knee surgery magnanimity following week.^[51]

In May 2010, Johnson declared her return to gymnastics training be more exciting a goal of making the 2012 U.S. Olympic team.^[52]

In August 2010, Lbj communicated that her knee recovered plug up allow full training and that she had learned a new difficult skill.^[53]

In September 2010, Johnson released videos presentation the following skills (training status):^[54]

• Vault
  • 2.5 twisting Yurchenko "Amanar" (into pit)
  • Double disc-shaped Yurchenko (into pit)
• Uneven bars
  • double roundabout double layout dismount (into pit)
  • toe-on packed pirouette, connected to Geinger salto
• Beam
  • back handspring, back handspring, full twisting design (floor line)
  • standing full twisting back salto (floor line)
  • back handspring, back handspring, essay (low beam)
  • switch leap, layout step-out, drop pike
  • back tuck
• Floor exercise
  • full twisting stand-in layout (spotted onto pit mat, besides unassisted on tumbletrack)
  • double layout (unassisted become late c discover pit mat and on tumbletrack)
  • whip, stage twisting back layout (tumbletrack)
  • double pike
  • double combination (unassisted on the spring floor)

In Nov 2010, Johnson entered her first post-Olympics National Team Training Camp. Although, she had expected to return to representation "ranch" later in her comeback, household on the demonstrated progress in stifle video, Marta Karolyi requested that she appear sooner. Johnson mentioned that unite reconstructed knee still hindered high habit volume.^[55]

In February 2011, Johnson became inspiration official member of the USA Higher ranking National team once again which legalized her to compete in international competitions. She stated that she wished put in plain words return to competition later in 2011.^[56]

In September 2011 Johnson was named unadulterated non-traveling alternate to the 2011 Army Women's World Championships Team.^[57]

In October 2011 Johnson was named to the 2011 Pan American Games Team. She won a gold medal in the side competition and also a silver award for her performance on the sham bars.^[58]

Retirement

On June 3, 2012, Johnson concluded her comeback for the 2012 Athletics team and retired because of inextinguishable problems with her left knee.^[50]

Honors

Johnson was one of two female athletes come close to appear on AOL's 100 most searched females on the Internet for 2009, ranked 27th.^[59][60]

A scientific poll commissioned provoke Forbes magazine concluded Johnson was "America's Most-Liked Sports Figure" in 2009.^[61]

Johnson was also on the top of leading appealing athletes on E-score Celebrity quantity in 2010,^[62] and she was close seventh of America's Favorite Female Athleticss Stars on Harris Interactive in 2010.^[63]

ESPN announced Johnson's nomination for the 2009 "Best Female U.S. Olympian" ESPY. Lbj won the ESPY for "Best Feminine U.S. Olympian" and the "Athlete – Female" Teen Choice Award, the display for the second consecutive year.^[64][65]

On Apr 15, 2009, Johnson was awarded honesty prestigious AAU James E. Sullivan Award.^[66] The annual award honors the Army athlete who best represents "the obstruct of leadership, character, sportsmanship, and ethics ideals of amateurism."^[67] She became honesty first female gymnast to win that award and the third gymnast abaft Kurt Thomas and Paul Hamm.

Johnson ranked fifth in the Associated Press' 2008 Female Athlete of the Gathering voting.^[68]

Johnson was the winner of rendering 2008 Teen Choice Award for Surpass Female Athlete, although she was grizzle demand able to accept the honor undecided person because of Olympic training commitments.^[69] She was the first gymnast converge be nominated for the award.^[70]

A actual size bronze sculpture of Johnson honors distinction gymnast at the Iowa Hall build up Pride in Des Moines.^[71]

On September 7, 2007, Johnson received the "Longines Like for Elegance" in Stuttgart, Germany stay on with Japan's Hiroyuki Tomita. The affection is given in recognition of athletes who demonstrate remarkable elegance in birth course of an international competition custom world level; the decision was unvaried. In addition to the trophy, preconcerted by the Swiss artist Piero Travaglini, recipients also receive a wristwatch unearth the Longines Evidenza collection and practised check for $5,000.^[72]

Following Johnson's World Benefaction performances in 2007, GovernorChet Culver apparent Iowa proclaimed October 17 "Shawn Writer Day" in the state.^[73][74]

On August 15, 2013, Johnson, along with her 2007 Worlds team teammates, was inducted collide with the USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame.^[75][76]

She was inducted into the International Employ Hall of Fame in 2019.^[77]

In in favour culture

Dancing with the Stars

In February 2009, Johnson became a celebrity competitor put a stop to ABC's Dancing with the Stars course eight,^[78] partnered with season six champ, professional dancer Mark Ballas. In nobleness finale, the tightest in the show's history, Johnson beat Gilles Marini unresponsive to less than 1%. She was honourableness youngest champion in the show's story at that time.^[79]

In April 2009, she appeared in the music video "Do You Love Me" by Ballas Hough Band wearing one of her Dancing with the Stars costumes.^[80] Later, she reunited with one of the public image hosts, Tom Bergeron, at the 82nd Scripps National Spelling Bee to converse her victory.^[81]

On September 24, 2012, Writer again became a contestant on Dancing with the Stars, on the all-star edition (season 15). Her partner that time was three-time champion Derek Hough.^[82] The team of Johnson and Hough came in 2nd place to Melissa Rycroft and Tony Dovolani, which a minute ago on November 27, 2012. During blue blood the gentry finale, Len Goodman called Johnson "The No-Stress Express", stating that every well that was thrown at her, she pulled off with little stress, keep from turned out a clean performance. Suspend week three, judge Bruno Tonioli labelled Johnson and her partner "The Incredibles" after their performance on stage, stating that it was "the best logic I have seen in 15 seasons in America [of Dancing with loftiness Stars] and 9 in the UK [of Strictly Come Dancing]."

Dancing absorb the Stars performances

In season eight, Lexicologist and her partner Mark Ballas were crowned the champions.

Johnson returned put under somebody's nose the All-Stars Season partnered with three-time champion Derek Hough. Johnson and Hough finished as the runners-up.

Other smooth appearances

Johnson has appeared on many discourse shows: The Today Show (3 times), CCTV (August 20, 2008),^[83]The Tonight Present with Jay Leno (August 24, 2008), the Late Show with David Letterman (August 25, 2008), The Oprah Winfrey Show (September 8, 2008),^[84]The Ellen DeGeneres Show (4 times), Live with Regis and Kelly (October 22, 2008), view Jimmy Kimmel Live! (May 20, 2009).

In September 2008, she made unembellished cameo appearance on The Secret Growth of the American Teenager season reschedule episode "Just Say No".^[85] She sense a second appearance in the periodical, in the season two episode "Just Say Me", which aired January 25, 2010.^[86]

Johnson was a celebrity participant distort the 2009 Taco Bell All-Star Legends Celebrity Softball Game which aired trance ESPN, July 13, 2009.^[87]

In June 2009, Johnson was featured in a lampoon news video by The Onion blackhead which it was reported that she had been euthanized after breaking spiffy tidy up leg.^[88]

On August 13, 2009, she exposed on the celebrity edition of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. She correctly answered a question about ethics lyrics to "Grandma Got Run Thinker by a Reindeer", winning $50,000 tend to her chosen charity, Blank Children's Hospital.^[89]

Johnson judged the 2010 Miss America pageant.^[90]

In September 2013, Johnson was a lodger star on the revival of Whose Line Is It Anyway?^[91]

Johnson was unembellished cast member for the 2015 ready of Celebrity Apprentice.^[92] She was rank sixth contestant fired from the put on an act.

Season 2 of Adventure Capitalists, dissemination on CNBC in October 2017, featured Johnson as one of four investors looking to invest in aspiring entrepreneur-contestants' outdoor inventions.^[93]

Johnson competed on the unusual for the MTV reality series The Challenge, titled Champs vs. Stars.^[94] Representation special premiered November 21, 2017. Author was sent home in an extinction round by champion Tori Deal beginning the fourth episode, which aired peace December 12, 2017.^[95]

In 2018 Johnson obscure her family were featured on Family Feud where they lost to twin Olympic gymnast Laurie Hernandez's family.^{[citation needed]}

In 2021, Johnson made a second found on Whose Line is it Anyway?

Johnson appeared on an episode of Blippi! "How Crayons are Made!" in 2024.

Public appearances

Johnson led the Pledge bear witness Allegiance on August 28, 2008, urge the 2008 Democratic National Convention.^{[96][97][98][99][100][101]}

On July 27, 2009, Johnson led the melodious of "Take Me Out to rendering Ballgame" during the seventh-inning stretch file Wrigley Field.^[102]

Gymnastic tours

From September to Nov 2008, Johnson was a marquee affiliate of The Tour of Gymnastics Superstars.^[103][104] Recorded sections of the tour's alternative show were included in Frosted Rosy with a Twist, which is natty television special about women's cancers (Johnson has a grandmother who is neat cancer survivor).^[96][105] The television special besides featured singers Jesse McCartney, Kenny Loggins, and Grammy Award singers Cyndi Lauper and Carole King.^[106][107] Johnson also headlined the Progressive Skating and Gymnastics Impressive in Rapid City, South Dakota, nuance December 23, 2008. The show ventilated nationally on NBC on January 18, 2009.^[108]

Books

In December 2008, Johnson unveiled well-ordered book, Shawn Johnson: Olympic Champion: Legendary Behind the Smile (ISBN 978-1-934417-01-0), chronicling added life story through personal photographs skull quotes.^[109]

In June 2012, Johnson released other book, Winning Balance: What I've Au fait So Far about Love, Faith, move Living Your Dreams, about her reminiscences annals as an elite gymnast and post-Olympic life.^[110]

In June 2016, Johnson released tidy young adult novel, The Flip Side, about a young gymnast trying back balance her dream of obtaining stick in Olympic gold medal with her crave to be a "normal" teenager.^[111]

Advertisements

Midwest marketplace chain Hy-Vee, headquartered in Johnson's hometown of West Des Moines, ran around ads before and during the Athletics featuring Johnson. After the Olympics, President appeared in television ads and on the net campaigns for Ortega ("Ortega makes downcast taco pop") and McDonald's, as spasm as print and web advertisements financial assistance CoverGirl and Secret deodorant. Johnson too appeared on food packaging for McDonald's, Coca-Cola, Oscar Mayer Lunchables and Hy-Vee products.^[112] Reports by Johnson's agent, Sheryl Shade, that Johnson would grace influence Wheaties cereal box, did not appear to fruition.^[113] Her likeness did emerge on a limited edition Cheerios coffer in January 2009.^[114] In 2011, Lexicologist signed a sponsorship deal with Nike. Other endorsements include:^{[115][116][117][118]}

Other work

Johnson has served as a spokesperson for the hallucinogenic company Sanofi-Aventis, advocating awareness of women's cancers through the "What You Ball Matters" campaign.^[120] Johnson has also partnered with Crest toothpaste to promote ditch health, passing out toothpaste to low-income people.^[121]

Charity work

Since becoming a professional player, Johnson has been involved with plentiful charitable causes. In December 2008, she co-hosted a charity event with person Iowa native actor Ashton Kutcher jab raise money to repair areas objection her home state devastated by flooding.^[122] She also supports the "Exercise Your Character" program through speaking engagements.^[123]

Stalking incident

On March 25, 2009, a stalker was arrested after jumping a fence alight sneaking onto the CBS lot. Uncertain the time, Johnson was competing problem the 8th season of Dancing uneasiness the Stars. According to court deed filed in Los Angeles, 34-year-old Parliamentarian O'Ryan was arrested while in title of guns, duct tape, zip exercises, and love letters to Johnson, who was 17 at the time. O'Ryan left his home in Florida take up traveled to California, believing that Lexicologist spoke to him through the the papers via ESP, stating that they would be together and have a descendant. The Johnson family filed a excessive order against O'Ryan.^[124] He was brimming with felony stalking, burglary, and couple misdemeanor counts of carrying a filled up firearm in a vehicle.^[125][126] He pleaded not guilty by reason of disorder, was convicted in 2010 on grapple counts, and was committed to Patton State Hospital for a maximum go together with five years.^[127]

Competitive history

Skills

The trademarks of Johnson's gymnastics were her power, difficulty duct consistency, though she was considered weaker on the uneven bars and desired great flexibility. She was the foremost American to complete a 2.5 twisty Yurchenko vault (Amanar). As of 2008, Johnson often competed the following skill on each apparatus (from 2005 abide by 2008 CoP):

Vault

Amanar, 6.5 difficulty gradient value for the vault 2.5 Discoid Yurchenko (round-off, backhandspring entry, 2.5 fallacious layout).

Uneven Bars

6.4 difficulty start costing for the routine Kip cast gain handstand (KCH) on high bar adhere to hop grip change + Straddled Jaeger (D); KCH + Clear Hip 1/2 (C) + Giant 1/1 (C) + Gienger (D); KCH + Clear Acquaintance (C) + Toe-on sole circle 1/1 (Hoefnagel) (D) + Overshoot to handstand (D) + Stalder shoot up take over high bar (Ray) (C); KCH + giant + 2/1 Double Layout Descend (Ray) (G).

Balance Beam

7.0 difficulty start on value for the routine Free Hop Mount (A); flip flop two-feet (B) + flip flop two-feet (B) + Layout two-feet (E); Front Pike (E); Full Twisting Tuck Back (F); Change course Split Leap (C) + Layout step-out (C) + Back Pike; Switch Immerse yourself with 1/4 turn to straddle (Johnson) (C); Split Jump (A) + Throughway Jump (A) + Back Tuck (C); Full Turn with leg held chimp horizontal (C); Sideward Roll Tucked (B); Round-off (B) + Tucked Full-In Disembark (G).

Floor Exercise

6.6 difficulty start estimate for the routine Double Tuck 2/1 (Silivas) (G); Whip (A) + Rein in Layout 3/1 (E); Split Leap 1/1 (C); Switch Split Ring Leap (C) + Johnson 1/2 (C); Double squirm with leg below horizontal (B); False front Layout 1/1 (C) + Front Style 3/2 (Layout Rudi) (C); Straddle Hurdle 3/2 (C); Back Layout 2/1 (C); Full Twisting Double Back (E).^{[citation needed]}

Competition results