Shawn Johnson beaming US gymnastic queen
23/7/2008 17:47
Loaded with beauty and talent, reigning world champion Shawn Johnson is a
highlight in the United States' star-studded women gymnastic team bound for the
Beijing Olympics next month.
Analysts said Johnson will bring home at least
one Olympic gold.
The 16-year-old girl, born in Iowa, tried gymnastics at the
age of three when her parents found dance class was not suitable for the kid
full of energy.
Johnson moved to a new gym initiated by Chinese gymnastic
coach Qiao Liang after two years of training in a local gymnastic
club.
American spectators' attention began to shift to Johnson when she
placed third in the junior division of the 2005 US Classic.
In 2007, Johnson
entered the senior division and won the all-around title in the Tyson American
Cup.
Her international reputation was built up as she represented the United
States at the 2007 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Stuttgart,
Germany.
Along with her teammates, Johnson defeated powerful rivals, the
defending champion China, and helped the United States to capture the women team
gold medal at the championships, which was just the second world team title in
the US history and the first won at a World Championships held outside of the
United States.
With stable performance, Johnson also joined Kim Zmeskal,
Shannon Miller and Chellsie Memmel as the only US women to win a world
all-around title in the 2007 tournament, and later added a gold medal on floor
exercise. It was the first time for a US gymnast to win both the team and
all-around gold medals at the same World Championships.
After the stunning
victory, Johnson herself could not believe it at once.
"I was looking in the
mirror getting ready and saying, 'You're the world champion, you're the best
gymnast in the world right now. 'It does not make sense so far," she said while
recalling the memory.
Johnson smoothly made the US Olympic team last month by
placing first in the trial in Pennsylvania.
Although the United States is the
only country to win a medal at every world championships and Olympics since
2001, it has to face tough challenges from China and Russia in the Beijing
Olympics.
"We know we'll have obstacles we have to pass. We have to choose
the toughest team because it will not be an easy job," US national team
coordinator Martha Karolyi told media.
Johnson will surely be a leading elite
of the US toughest girls and is poised to claim more world title in the coming
Olympics.
Xinhua
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