Posted on 08/19/2008 11:59:40 PM PDT by L.A.Justice
Shawn Johnson had dark circles under her brown eyes and a headache, but when she jumped onto the balance beam Tuesday night she switched on her smile and defiantly pounded out a gold- medal routine.
"This gold means more than anything to me," Johnson said. "Beam is my favorite event, and I've worked hardest on this for a long time. It's the perfect ending to my Olympic experience."
The United States finished 1-2, with Nastia Liukin getting the silver. China's Cheng Fei won the bronze.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
Just a shame
She deserved it!
What shame?
Ma and Pa Johnson mortgaged their Iowa house and now she’s rich beyond her dreams! It’s a great story.
Just watched and boy was she one beaming lil gal.
So happy for her.
JMO but her attitude has been wonderful even in defeat.
In all events tonight lotsa tumbles and falls. Even in track and field.
Seemed a lot of underdogs got medals today/tonight which makes it all the more special.
The mens competition on the rings totally impressed me looking at the defintion/strength in the upper muscles.
I am not atheletic (hate pain) at all and have been amazed at these atheletes human capabilities.
What? She drives a Land Rover!
And Jonathan Horton winning that silver! How proud he looked! Great night for American gymnastics!
Mortgaged TWICE and the her gym was flooded in the past winter putting a damper on her work outs.
Great job by Horton and Johnson tonight.
USA!!! USA!!! USA!!!
That she was given from the Land Rover company for her 16th birthday.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/04/sports/olympics/04johnson.html?em
“Her face is on cans of Coke and on McDonald’s paper products nationwide, and through the generosity of a local car dealership, she drives a red Land Rover.”
These are two great articles about Shawn and are spot on about her graciousness and friendliness.
http://www.kansascity.com/495/story/755821.html
Those pictures sure make it look easy, don’t they? Ha!
It’s just crazy what the gymnasts do.
I am just saying...she had endorsements before the games, and will be making some serious dough after...
Michael Phelps was making millions too....that is how he could afford all that food and swimtime. Even his mom has a deal...every outfit she wore she was paid for.
I wanted Shawn Johnson to do the best to begin with... I felt sorry for Alicia Sacramone...but she just couldnt keep it together....I remember watching the Team Trials and she made the same mistakes, cried the same tears. At least she got a scholi from Brown out of her career....I think it is over for her now.
Nastia does nothing for me. I think she won the all around because her dad was friendly with the Russian judge back in the gymnastics training camp back in the day. And then her routine with the old style Soviet music.
I’ve been a Shawn fan since her first senior meet. That girl is great! And you know when Bela and Mary Lou are two of her biggest fans that she really is ::that:: good.
I agree about the judging (though Nastia got the short end of the stick with that whole bars tie-breaker mess!)
And I agree about Alicia...poor girl...and her heartbreak after being beaten out by a girl who fell on her landing on vault to end it all :-( So sad!
I’m so glad it sounds like Shawn intends to stick around for London. She has a sparkle like few others have had! And the way she’s stayed so grounded makes her even more endearing!
Yeah for happy endings!
One of the articles I read earlier today compared the width of the beam to the approximate length of an ipod, and basically said try to imagine just jumping on your ipod and landing and not wobbling...nevermind what they do! Ha!
Talking about putting into perspective how easy she makes it look. LOL!
Say it ain't so. Sacramone is 20 years young... That strange German-Uzbek woman who got silver was how old? 36? Is it really over already?
I watched it this morning. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a happier, brighter, beaming smile on anyone. I think I fell in love with her smile. It matched the beauty of her performance.
Did you all see the interview she had with Bob Costas last night where she made a point of wearing big peace sign earrings? Can we take that as a sign directed at China and Russia and not President Bush and politics at home? She lost me. Peaceniks cause more bloodshed because they would give more power to murderous regimes.
I like to think that it's the young, rose-colored ideal of "peace" she was wishing for with those baubles, and nothing more.
Where are the Russians? The Ukranians? The Romanians?
It’s a shame because I’ll be 23.
Other than that, an athletic girl with that kind of dedication is a great catch.
Actually the Chinese won one gold medal and three bronze medals in Athens. I have no problem with their prowess though obviously their little girls should be disqualified because of age.
The Russians have simply fallen off the face of the earth in gymnastics. The Romanian women did win a gold medal in the floor exercises but their program too has gone into the abyss. Really the three powerhouses in gymnastics for the foreseeable future is the U.S., China and Japan.
BUMP!
Come on...She’s still in high school...She will probably get wiser as she gets older...Let’s not be too harsh on her right now.
I liked both Shawn and Nastia...I think Nastia did a fine job...Too bad that Nastia ended up tied with the Chinese gymnast...Nastia lost the tiebreaker. Why not give gold to both ladies? Apparently that was done before...
I am glad that Nastia decided to compete for US, not Russia. She was born in Russia. I am sure she could have easily ended up on the Russian team. Reminds me of that US female basketball player who decided to become a Russian citizen...I am certain that US team will beat the Russian team in basketball.
Thank you!
I was wondering if anyone else noticed that.
Did you also notice how she CLEARLY grimaced when she was standing there during our national anthem?
CLEARLY she HATES America. Her peace sign earrings confirmed it. I'd bet you my right arm, her native born coach doesn't HATE America.
Do you or does anyone else have the video of her standing there with utter disgust on her face as they played the U.S. anthem? I've been looking for it.
I see that Shawn is going to do the pledge of allegiance at the DNC convention. I think she’s an Obama girl.
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