by Nancy French
Chow and Li: For giving me the opportunity to work with the best. I sincerely feel as if we have become family. Through everything, working to succeed and make you proud has been one of my biggest motivations. You are the greatest mentors an athlete could ask for.
The Michael Johnson Performance Center crew: For giving me a second chance at seeing my dreams come true. You saw the hope I had lost and turned my life back around. You gave me a new beginning and a lifelong group of friends.
Sheryl: For seeing something in me when I was thirteen years old and believing in what I had to show the world. It has been a true honor to work with you through the years, and calling you part of my family only seems natural. . . . Thank you.
My sponsors: For believing in me and supporting me so I could see my dreams come true. You have given me the chance to share my story with the world and to work with the best . . . and that’s the greatest honor an athlete could ask for.
My fans: For supporting me and cheering me on. . . . I dream big, have fun, and follow my heart for you! Your loyalty means the world!
About the Author
Shawn Johnson is an Olympic gold and three-time silver medalist in women’s gymnastics. She was the 2007 all-around World Champion and the 2007 and 2008 US all-around champion. Shawn won the eighth season of Dancing with the Stars as the youngest competitor in the show’s history. She has appeared on Oprah, Today, Late Show with David Letterman, The Tonight Show, and other programs. Shawn earned ESPN’s ESPY Award for Best US Female Olympian in 2009; she also won the Teen Choice Female Athlete of the Year Award in both 2009 and 2011. Visit her online at www.shawnjohnson.net.
Nancy French (collaborator) is a New York Times bestselling author. Her books include A Red State of Mind: How a Catfish Queen Reject Became a Liberty Belle; Not Afraid of Life: My Journey So Far (with Bristol Palin); and Home and Away: A Story of Family in a Time of War (with David French). She is the editor of the Faith and Family Portal at Patheos.com and can be reached at www.nancyfrench.com.
Growing Up in Iowa
Me at one and a half years old
Going to a junior high school dance
I could make a balance beam out of anything
Team of Champions
Competing in the individual all-around at the World Gymnastics Championships in 2007
The Worlds team on NBC’s Today
Outside the Olympic Village in Beijing
At NBC’s studio in Beijing with my parents
Me and Chow after a competition
Giving It My All
Performing in the individual all-around
Taking a moment to encourage our team captain, Alicia Sacramone
The beam routine was my last chance to win a gold medal at the 2008 Olympic games . . .
. . . and I did it!
Olympic Highlights
The Olympic medal–winning USA team!
Me and Li celebrating the gold medal win
Backstage at NBC with three people who made the Olympics special for me: Bela Karolyi, Chow, and Bob Costas
Wearing my first Olympic silver medal . . . with my parents; my agent, Sheryl; and my good friend and supporter Meredith Vieira
Celebrating with a Coca-Cola. (This was the only picture taken of me at the Games with all four medals!)
Special Moments
Leading the Pledge of Allegiance at the 2008 Democratic National Convention
On the red carpet at the Hannah Montana movie premiere in my cheerful yellow dress
Backstage at The Ellen DeGeneres Show, with my cousin Tori and Mario Lopez
Prom night!
Dancing with the Stars
Dancing the samba with Mark Ballas on Dancing with the Stars
Holding the famous mirror ball trophy!
Only the Beginning
Meeting a young fan
Looking toward the future . . . excited to see what it holds
Notes
1 Charlie Gibson, “ABC News Person of the Week: Shawn Johnson,” ABC World News, September 14, 2007.
2 USA Gymnastics, “October 17, 2007, Is ‘Shawn Johnson Day’ in Iowa,” October 17, 2007, http://usagym.org/pages/post.html?PostID=897&prog=h.
3 Juliet Macur, “For Some, a Silver Lining, or Even Bronze, Must Do,” New York Times, August 17, 2008.
4 Hy-Vee, Inc., “Shawn Johnson Makes It Official: She’s Training for London Olympics in 2012,” press release, May 4, 2010.