Shawn Johnson

Olympic speaker Shawn Johnson, an American gymnast born in Des Moines, Iowa, is best known for receiving the gold medal in the 2008 Olympic Games. The gold medal was won in the balance beam event, and she received silver for her individual all around. When Shawn Johnson was six years old, she became one of the first students of Liang Chow’s new school opened in West Des Moines. Liang Chow is now the head coach of the US gymnastics women’s team and Shawn’s personal coach. Unlike most elite gymnasts who log forty hours a week of training, Shawn only logs twenty to twenty-five hours a week.

In 2005, Shawn Johnson attracted national attention when she placed third in the junior division at the U.S. Classic, here she to the Junior International Elite status—her first try. At the national championships in 2005, she fell off the beam which landed her tenth in the all-around. The following year, at the U.S. Junior National All-Around Championships, Shawn answered back with a two top-difficulty skill on her arsenal: full-in beam dismount and double-twisting double back floor exercise mount. This won her the Championship.

Officially in 2007, Shawn Johnson entered the senior division and was a participant in the Tyson American Cup and the Pan American Games, here she won the all-around title and four gold medals. Also in this same year, Shawn won the all-around at the Visa U.S. National Championships, and after this she represented the U.S. at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships. At the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, she competed in all four events during the Games and helped the U.S. win the silver medal. In the balance event, she won the gold medal.

Shawn left pubic school in her spring semester of the 2008-2009 school year when she moved to Los Angeles, California with her mother to be a contestant on Dancing with the Stars. Shawn would go on to be the victor of Dancing with the Stars eighth season, and she eventually placed second on the all-star edition. Since then, Shawn has worked as a broadcaster for the Big Ten Network in 2013 and 2014.

Shawn’s sponsors include: McDonald’s, HyVee, GK, Coca-Cola, Longines and Eukanuba. Her promotional partners are Nestle, Willis auto campus, got milk? and Kraft lunchables. She is available for sponsorships, speaking engagements and public appearances.

SHOWS: Dancing with the Stars

BOOKS: Shawn Johnson: Olympic Champion: Stories Behind the Smile, Winning Balance

APPEARANCES: ABC, ESPN, NBC, 2008 Summer Olympics, CMT Awards, Late Show with David Letterman, Live with Regis and Kelly, Sidewalks Entertainment, SportsCenter, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, The Secret Life of the American Teenager

TO WORK WITH SHAWN JOHNSON: Celebrity gymnastics star Shawn Johnson can be hired for endorsements and events in roles such as corporate appearances, endorsements, speaking and autograph signing.