Shawn Johnson

In March 2009, Shawn made the news when she was reported to have a stalker pursuing her as she performed on Dancing With the Stars. The stalker claimed that he and Shawn (who have never met) communicated in a mental way, and he felt confident that he would marry and have children with her someday. It was later revealed that the man had duct tape, guns, and love letters to Shawn in his car on the same night that he tried to meet her. A restraining order was filed against him.

Shawn participated as a celebrity dancer in Season 8 of Dancing with the Stars, partnered with professional dancer Mark Ballas. On May 19, 2009, they were announced as the season's winners. Shawn described it as "the best experience ever".

Shawn is probably the only athlete in the world to have three "G" level elements on three events. (In the code of points, skills are arranged in different levels, "A" skills being basic skills, "G" skills being the most difficult elements.)

Shawn has completed a 2.5-twisting Yurchenko, does a standing full (back flip with a full twist) on beam, and a tucked double-double (two flips with two twists) on floor.

Shawn's favorite athlete in another sport is Lance Armstrong.

In 2008, Shawn's French teacher told Us Weekly Magazine that Shawn did not eat any junk food except for dark chocolate "every once in a while".

Shawn is well-known for her sweet personality and gracious attitude throughout the 2008 Olympics. "I don't think you'll find a person in West Des Moines who doesn't love her", a friend once said of Shawn.

Right after the 2008 Olympic Games, Shawn appeared on the cover of Us Weekly Magazine with gymnastics teammate Nastia Liukin. In the feature article, Shawn said that she brought every episode of The Secret Life of the American Teenager with her to the Olympics. When the producers of the show read this, they invited her to guest star in the Season 1 finale episode, and she accepted.

Shawn's favorite book is You Go Girl, by Kim Doren and Charlie Jones.

If Shawn could add any sport to the Olympic Games it would be dancing.

If Shawn wasn't doing gymnastics she would be studying medicine or kinesiology.

Shawn spends 1 hour on the Internet per week.

Shawn prefers the sitting in the the window seat in an airplane than the aisle seat.

Shawn's favorite athletes are Lance Armstrong, Shawn White, Michael Phelps, Apolo Ohno.

One of Shawn's pet peeves is disorganization.

If Shawn could play another sport it would be diving.

Shawn sends about 40 text messages per week.

Shawn's favorite brand of jeans are Abercrombie & Lucky Brand.

Shawn's best attribute around the house is organization.

Shawn's favorite place to travel outside the U.S is London.

Shawn's favorite food is sushi and strawberries.

Shawn's favorite TV show as a kid was Tom and Jerry.

Shawn's favorite reality TV show is the Bachelor.

Shawn's first car was a red 1996 Jeep LR2 Land Rover.

Shawn doesn't believe in lucky charms.

Shawn goes to Valley High School, a public school in West Des Moines, Iowa, USA.

Shawn likes to dance and rollerblade in her free time.

A normal breakfast for Shawn is yogurt and scrambled eggs.

Shawn was put in a dance class when she was three years old, before starting gymnastics.

Shawn usual work out is 4 hours a day and 5 to 6 hours on Saturday with Sundays off.

Shawn was born with an APGAR((Appearance, Pulse, Grimace, Activity, Respiration) score of 0.

Shawn trains 20-25 hours a week.

Shawn prefers books over video games.

Her biggest fear is losing a family member.

She prefers Wheat Bread over White Bread.

Her favorite TV Show is Will & Grace.

Shawn's favorite dishes to cook are potato salads or baking.

She's interested in literature and human anatomy.

Last Christmas she got a Blackberry Pearl.

Shawn's coaches are Liang Qiao(Chow) and Liwen Zhuang(Li).

Shawn won four gold medals and the All-Around in the 2007 Pan American Games.

She won the Tyson 2007 American Cup.

She won 1st place in the Olympic Trials in Philadelphia.

Shawn on the silver medal in the Individual All-Around at the 2008 Summer Olympics.

Shawn won the silver medal in Team Competition at the 2008 Summer Olympics.

Shawn won the gold medal on the balance beam apparatus at the 2008 Summer Olympics.

Shawn won the silver medal in floor exercise at the 2008 Summer Olympics.

Shawn's favorite band is Rascal Flatts.

Shawn is 4' 9" (1.45 m).

During study halls, Shawn often walks animal shelter dogs as part of her school's volunteer program.

In Iowa, October 17th was named "Shawn Johnson Day" by Governor Chet Culver.

Shawn's best subject is math but her favorite subject is English.

In early July a bronze statue was dedicated to Shawn at the Iowa Hall of Pride.

Shawn has a Golden Retriever named Tucker and two Tabby cats named Max and Vern.

She started gymnastics when she was 6 years old.

Shawn's biggest role models are Kim Zmeskal and Shannon Miller.

Shawn's favorite event in gymnastics is balance beam.

Shawn writes poetry and draws.