Sport: Gymnastics
Country: United States
Birth Date: Jan. 19, 1992
Hometown: West Des Moines, Iowa.

Career Highlights

Shawn Johnson bolted onto the elite women's gymnastics scene in 2007. A member of the U.S. squad that won the team gold at the 2007 World Championships, she also finished first in the women's all-around and the floor exercise. The teen was also on the gold-medal winning American squad at the 2007 Pan American Games, and claimed individual gold in the all-around, uneven bars and balance beam. She took gold at the U.S. championships in 2007 and 2008, beating out Nastia Liukin for the national title this year.

Gymnastics Roots

The American began participating in gymnastics because her mom said, "The wild child just needed something to do." Johnson's favorite event is the balance beam, and she says her favorite part of competing in gymnastics is going to interesting places and meeting new people.

Personal

Johnson attends Valley High School in West Des Moines, Iowa. English is her favorite subject, and Johnson has had three short stories published and hopes to one day become either a doctor or a gymnastics coach. She says her favorite foods are chicken and steak kabobs, peaches and cream and corn on the cob. She likes to listen to Rascal Flatts and enjoys watching So You Think You Can Dance and Dancing With The Stars. Johnson's hobbies include scrapbooking, shopping and walking dogs from the shelter.