Shawn Johnson East (born Shawn Machel Johnson; January 19, 1992) is an American former
artistic gymnast. She is the
2008 Olympic balance beam gold medalist and
team
A team is a group of individuals (human or non-human) working together to achieve their goal.
As defined by Professor Leigh Thompson of the Kellogg School of Management, " team is a group of people who are interdependent with respect to in ...
,
all-around
The All-Around is an award given to a rodeo competitor who is most successful in two or more events. Most individual rodeos and championships determine the winner of this award at the conclusion of the other events or championships.
Championship ...
and
floor exercise silver medalist. Johnson is also the 2007 all-around World Champion, and a five-time
Pan American Games
The Pan American Games, known as the Pan Am Games, is a continental multi-sport event in the Americas. It features thousands of athletes participating in competitions to win different summer sports. It is held among athletes from nations of th ...
gold medalist, winning the team titles in 2007 and 2011, as well as titles in the all-around,
uneven bars
The uneven bars or asymmetric bars is an artistic gymnastics apparatus. It is made of a steel frame. The bars are made of fiberglass with wood coating, or less commonly wood. The English abbreviation for the event in gymnastics scoring is UB or ...
, and
balance beam in 2007.
Johnson became a member of the U.S. senior team in 2007. Her rookie season included winning the all-around at the American Cup, Pan American Games, U.S. National Championships, and World Championships. Johnson is also the
2007 individual all-around World Champion, 2007 World Champion on floor exercise, and a member of the 2007 gold medal-winning U.S. gymnastics team. As well as being the 2007 U.S. Champion on balance beam and floor exercise, the 2008 U.S. Champion on floor exercise and silver medalist on balance beam, Johnson is a three-time U.S. all-around Champion, winning once as a junior and twice as a senior.
In May 2009, Johnson was the winner of
season eight of ''
Dancing with the Stars
''Strictly Come Dancing (widely known as Dancing with the Stars)'' is an international television franchise based on the format of the British TV series '' Strictly Come Dancing,'' itself a successor to the show ''Come Dancing'' (1950–1998) ...
'', and in November 2012 she earned second place on the
all-star edition.
Johnson announced her retirement from gymnastics on June 3, 2012.
Early and personal life
Johnson was born in
Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of cities in Iowa, most populous city in the U.S. state of Iowa. It is the county seat of Polk County, Iowa, Polk County with parts extending into Warren County, Iowa, Wa ...
on January 19, 1992, the daughter of Doug and Teri Johnson. Her parents enrolled her in a gymnastics class at age 3, after they noticed her climbing cabinets and jumping off tables. At age 6, Johnson was one of
Liang Chow's first students when he opened
a gymnastics school in
West Des Moines, and he would go on to coach Johnson for nearly two decades as a competitive gymnast.
[ "Chow is like a father to me, we've been with each other for so long," Johnson said in 2012.][Liang Chow’s Gymnastics Coaching Journey: From Beijing to West Des Moines]
''TIME''. July 26, 2012.
Johnson attended Valley High School. She was on the honor roll and liked to attend football games and dances. Through 2008, Johnson maintained a more balanced lifestyle than typical of elite female gymnasts. She limited her gymnastics training to 25 hours per week, as opposed to the more typical 40 hours.
Johnson left public school in the spring of 2009. She and her mother relocated to Los Angeles
Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...
, California
California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...
, before appearing on ''Dancing with the Stars
''Strictly Come Dancing (widely known as Dancing with the Stars)'' is an international television franchise based on the format of the British TV series '' Strictly Come Dancing,'' itself a successor to the show ''Come Dancing'' (1950–1998) ...
''. In 2010, she finished high school with a private tutor. She enrolled at Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University (informally Vandy or VU) is a private university, private research university in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1873, it was named in honor of shipping and railroad magnate Cornelius Vanderbilt, who provide ...
in 2013, but withdrew before classes began.
Johnson is married to Andrew East, a professional football long snapper who played for the Vanderbilt Commodores in college and the Washington Commanders
The Washington Commanders are a professional American football team based in the Washington metropolitan area. The Commanders compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) East division ...
(then the Redskins) in 2018. They were engaged on July 24, 2015, at Wrigley Field
Wrigley Field is a ballpark on the North Side, Chicago, North Side of Chicago, Illinois. It is the home ballpark of Major League Baseball's Chicago Cubs, one of the city's two MLB franchises. It first opened in 1914 as Weeghman Park for Charl ...
during a Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The Cubs compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Central Division. Th ...
game and were married on April 16, 2016, in Franklin, Tennessee
Franklin is a city in and the county seat of Williamson County, Tennessee, United States. About south of Nashville, Tennessee, Nashville, it is one of the principal cities of the Nashville metropolitan area and Middle Tennessee. As of 2020 Uni ...
. They live in Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, often known as Music City, is the capital and List of municipalities in Tennessee, most populous city in the U.S. state of Tennessee. It is the county seat, seat of Davidson County, Tennessee, Davidson County in Middle Tennessee, locat ...
.
In November 2015, she revealed that she had suffered from an eating disorder
An eating disorder is a mental disorder defined by abnormal eating behaviors that adversely affect a person's health, physical or mental health, mental health. These behaviors may include eating too much food or too little food. Types of eatin ...
in 2008 in the lead-up to the 2008 Olympics. She admitted she would eat approximately 700 calories
The calorie is a unit of energy that originated from the caloric theory of heat. The large calorie, food calorie, dietary calorie, kilocalorie, or kilogram calorie is defined as the amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of one liter o ...
per day.
In October 2017, Johnson revealed through a YouTube video that she had been pregnant, but suffered a miscarriage. In April 2019, Johnson and her husband announced they were expecting their first child. Their daughter, Drew Hazel East, was born on October 29, 2019. In January 2021, Johnson and her husband announced that they were expecting their second child, a son. Their son, Jett James East, was born on July 19, 2021. In July 2023, Johnson and her husband announced on their YouTube channel that they are expecting their third child. Their son Barrett “Bear” Madison East was born December 12, 2023.
In February 2022, Johnson and her husband joined the ownership group of Angel City FC
Angel City Football Club is an American professional Association football, soccer team based in Los Angeles, California, that competes in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). The formation of the team was announced on July 21, 2020; it beg ...
of the National Women's Soccer League
The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) is a women's professional Association football, soccer league and the highest level of the United States soccer league system#Women's leagues, United States soccer league system (alongside the USL Supe ...
.
Gymnastics career
Junior career
Pre-elite
When she was 12, Johnson competed in the Developmental Program- (U.S. Level 10 National Championships, finishing fourth in the all-around, first on beam, and second on floor.
As a youngster, Johnson was not invited to USA Gymnastics
United States of America Gymnastics (USA Gymnastics or USAG) is the national governing body for gymnastics in the United States. It sets the domestic rules and policies that govern the sport, promotes and develops gymnastics on the grassroots ...
' national team training camps, and her coach, Liang Chow, had no interactions with the national staff. In 2005, Chow sent the National Team Coordinator, Marta Karolyi, a video of Johnson with the comment "I believe this kid will help the U.S. team." Karolyi felt the action was audacious, commenting, "Wow, this coach is pretty confident", but she soon invited Johnson to national team training camps.
Junior elite
Johnson qualified Junior International Elite on her first attempt. She attracted widespread attention at the 2005 U.S. Classic, where she placed third. At the 2005 U.S. National Championships, Johnson fell from the beam on the first day of competition and finished tenth all-around.
In 2006, Johnson added several new skills, including a Jaeger on bars, and two top-difficulty (G) skills, a full-in back-out dismount off beam and a double-twisting double back on floor. She won the 2006 U.S. Junior National All-Around Championship with a score higher than any of her senior elite competitors.
Senior career
2007: pre-Worlds
Johnson became a senior in 2007 and continued to show new skills, including a double-twisting double layout dismount off the uneven bars. She competed at the American Cup, winning the all-around over teammate Natasha Kelley. Johnson also competed in the 2007 Pan American Games
The 2007 Pan American Games, officially known as the XV Pan American Games () and commonly known as Rio 2007, were a major Americas, continental multi-sport event that took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from July 13 to 29, 2007. A total of ...
, winning four gold medals (team, all-around, beam and bars) and a silver on floor.
Johnson won the all-around at the 2007 Visa U.S. National Championships, beating Shayla Worley by more than three points.
2007 World Championships
Johnson represented the U.S. at the 2007 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships along with Nastia Liukin
Anastasia "Nastia" Valeryevna Liukin (; ; born October 30, 1989) is an Americans, American former artistic gymnast. She is the Gymnastics at the 2008 Summer Olympics, 2008 Olympic Gymnastics at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Women's artistic ind ...
, Shayla Worley, Alicia Sacramone, Ivana Hong, and Samantha Peszek.
In prelims (qualification), Johnson scored 16.250 on beam, 15.150 on floor, 15.175 on vault, and (with a fall on her dismount) 14.625 on bars. The U.S. finished first in prelims and Johnson qualified to the all-around, beam, and floor finals.
Johnson performed all four events in the team finals; the only U.S. athlete to do this. Johnson scored 15.375 on bars and floor, and 15.150 on vault. She fell on the beam on her handspring-handspring-layout series and scored 15.025. The team won gold with 184.400 points, 0.950 ahead of silver-medal China. It was the second U.S. team gold in the World Championships.
In the all-around finals, Johnson scored a 15.175 on vault, 15.375 on bars, 15.900 on beam and 15.425 on floor. Her 61.875 total made her the fourth American woman to win the all-around gold medal.
During event finals, Johnson first competed on the balance beam, where she fell on her standing full and on her switch side leap, scoring a 14.475 and finishing last. In floor exercise, she went out-of-bounds on her first tumbling pass, but won the gold with a 15.250, just eclipsing teammate Sacramone.
2008: pre-Olympics
Johnson competed again in the American Cup on March 1, 2008, in Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden, colloquially known as the Garden or by its initials MSG, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in New York City. It is located in Midtown Manhattan between Seventh Avenue (Manhattan), Seventh and Eighth Avenue (Manhattan), Eig ...
. She fell on her Amanar vault, scoring a 15.175. On the other apparatus, she scored 15.625 on bars, 16.325 on beam, and 15.975 on floor. Although Johnson scored first on the vault, balance beam, and floor, she finished second in the all-around. Nastia Liukin won gold with an uneven bars score nearly a point higher than Johnson.
One week later, Johnson represented the U.S. in Jesolo, Italy against Italy, Spain, and Poland, along with Jana Bieger, Olivia Courtney, Chelsea Davis, Bridget Sloan, and Samantha Peszek. The U.S. won the junior and senior all-around team titles. Johnson won the all-around with a 61.7, earning the highest scores on vault (15.2), beam (16.2), and floor (15.0). Johnson finished first on floor, despite falling, on her double-double mount.
On June 7, 2008, Johnson won the 2008 U.S. Visa Championships. Johnson scored 127.5, winning the all-around title by one point ahead of Liukin. Johnson also won the floor exercise.
Two weeks later, Johnson won the all-around at the Olympic Trials in Philadelphia
Philadelphia ( ), colloquially referred to as Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania, most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the List of United States cities by population, sixth-most populous city in the Unit ...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania, officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a U.S. state, state spanning the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern United States, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes region, Great Lakes regions o ...
, again finishing ahead of Liukin. Because of their top placements, Johnson and Liukin were named to the 2008 U.S. Olympic gymnastics team immediately after the Trials. The other four 2008 team members earned their spots after two additional selection camps.
2008 Summer Olympics
At the 2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics (), officially the Games of the XXIX Olympiad () and officially branded as Beijing 2008 (), were an international multisport event held from 8 to 24 August 2008, in Beijing, China. A total of 10,942 athletes fro ...
, Johnson competed in all four events during the team competition, in which the United States
The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
won the silver medal. Johnson also won the silver medal in the individual all-around competition, receiving a score of 62.725. Johnson's teammate and roommate at the Olympic Village
An Olympic Village is a residential complex built or reassigned for the Olympic Games in or nearby the List of Olympic Games host cities, host city for the purpose of accommodating all of the delegations. Olympic Villages are usually located clos ...
, Nastia Liukin
Anastasia "Nastia" Valeryevna Liukin (; ; born October 30, 1989) is an Americans, American former artistic gymnast. She is the Gymnastics at the 2008 Summer Olympics, 2008 Olympic Gymnastics at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Women's artistic ind ...
, won the gold medal, receiving a score of 63.325. With Liukin taking gold and Johnson silver, this competition was the first time that the United States Women's Gymnastics team took both the gold and silver medals in the individual all-around competition; this competition also marks the fourth time a country won both gold and silver medals in the individual all-around competition.
She won the silver medal in floor exercise, with teammate Liukin taking bronze. She won a gold medal on the balance beam apparatus becoming the second American to win gold on balance beam after Shannon Miller who won in 1996
1996 was designated as:
* International Year for the Eradication of Poverty
Events January
* January 8 – A Zairean cargo plane crashes into a crowded market in the center of the capital city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo ...
. Like the individual all-around, she and Liukin took the top two medals in this event. She qualified as the second reserve to the uneven bars final, but did not compete.
Comeback
In January 2010, Johnson tore her left ACL and MCL while skiing. She had reconstructive knee surgery the following week.
In May 2010, Johnson announced her return to gymnastics training with a goal of making the 2012 U.S. Olympic team.
In August 2010, Johnson communicated that her knee recovered to allow full training and that she had learned a new difficult skill.
In September 2010, Johnson released videos showing the following skills (training status):
* Vault
** 2.5 twisting Yurchenko "Amanar" (into pit)
** Double twisting Yurchenko (into pit)
* Uneven bars
** double twisting double layout dismount (into pit)
** toe-on full pirouette, connected to Geinger salto
* Beam
** back handspring, back handspring, full twisting layout (floor line)
** standing full twisting back salto (floor line)
** back handspring, back handspring, layout (low beam)
** switch leap, layout step-out, back pike
** back tuck
* Floor exercise
** full twisting double layout (spotted onto pit mat, also unassisted on tumbletrack)
** double layout (unassisted onto pit mat and on tumbletrack)
** whip, double twisting back layout (tumbletrack)
** double pike
** double layout (unassisted on the spring floor)
In November 2010, Johnson entered her first post-Olympics National Team Training Camp. Although, she had expected to return to the "ranch" later in her comeback, based on the demonstrated progress in her video, Marta Karolyi requested that she appear sooner. Johnson mentioned that her reconstructed knee still hindered high training volume.
In February 2011, Johnson became an official member of the USA Senior National team once again which allowed her to compete in international competitions. She stated that she wished to return to competition later in 2011.
In September 2011 Johnson was named a non-traveling alternate to the 2011 USA Women's World Championships Team.
In October 2011 Johnson was named to the 2011 Pan American Games Team. She won a gold medal in the team competition and also a silver medal for her performance on the uneven bars.
Retirement
On June 3, 2012, Johnson ended her comeback for the 2012 Olympic team and retired from competitive gymnastics because of continuing problems with her left knee.
Honors
Johnson was one of two female athletes to appear on AOL's 100 most searched females on the Internet for 2009, ranked 27th.
A scientific poll commissioned by ''Forbes'' magazine concluded Johnson was "America's Most-Liked Sports Figure" in 2009.
Johnson was also on the top of most appealing athletes on E-score Celebrity metric in 2010, and she was ranked seventh of America's Favorite Female Sports Stars on Harris Interactive in 2010.
ESPN
ESPN (an initialism of their original name, which was the Entertainment and Sports Programming Network) is an American international basic cable sports channel owned by the Walt Disney Company (80% and operational control) and Hearst Commu ...
announced Johnson's nomination for the 2009 "Best Female U.S. Olympian" ESPY. Johnson won the ESPY for "Best Female U.S. Olympian" and the "Athlete – Female" Teen Choice Award, the latter for the second consecutive year.
On April 15, 2009, Johnson was awarded the prestigious AAU James E. Sullivan Award. The annual award honors the USA athlete who best represents "the qualities of leadership, character, sportsmanship, and the ideals of amateurism." She became the first female gymnast to win this award and the third gymnast after Kurt Thomas and Paul Hamm.
Johnson ranked fifth in the Associated Press
The Associated Press (AP) is an American not-for-profit organization, not-for-profit news agency headquartered in New York City.
Founded in 1846, it operates as a cooperative, unincorporated association, and produces news reports that are dist ...
' 2008 Female Athlete of the Year voting.
Johnson was the winner of the 2008 Teen Choice Award
The Teen Choice Awards were an annual awards show that aired on the Fox television network between 1999 and 2019. The awards, based on a popularity vote that could be overridden by the producerswho reserved the right to choose the winnerscovered ...
for Best Female Athlete, although she was not able to accept the honor in person because of Olympic training commitments. She was the first gymnast to be nominated for the award.
A life-sized bronze sculpture of Johnson honors the gymnast at the Iowa Hall of Pride in Des Moines.
On September 7, 2007, Johnson received the "Longines Prize for Elegance" in Stuttgart, Germany along with Japan's Hiroyuki Tomita. The prize is given in recognition of athletes who demonstrate remarkable elegance in the course of an international competition at world level; the decision was unanimous. In addition to the trophy, designed by the Swiss artist Piero Travaglini, recipients also receive a wristwatch from the Longines Evidenza collection and a check for $5,000.
Following Johnson's World Championship performances in 2007, Governor
A governor is an politician, administrative leader and head of a polity or Region#Political regions, political region, in some cases, such as governor-general, governors-general, as the head of a state's official representative. Depending on the ...
Chet Culver of Iowa
Iowa ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the upper Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders the Mississippi River to the east and the Missouri River and Big Sioux River to the west; Wisconsin to the northeast, Ill ...
proclaimed October 17 "Shawn Johnson Day" in the state.
On August 15, 2013, Johnson, along with her 2007 Worlds team teammates, was inducted into the USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame.
She was inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame
The International Gymnastics Hall of Fame, located in Oklahoma City, USA, is a hall of fame dedicated to honoring the achievements and contributions of the world's greatest competitors, coaches and authorities in artistic gymnastics.
The early IG ...
in 2019.
In popular culture
''Dancing with the Stars''
In February 2009, Johnson became a celebrity competitor on ABC's ''Dancing with the Stars
''Strictly Come Dancing (widely known as Dancing with the Stars)'' is an international television franchise based on the format of the British TV series '' Strictly Come Dancing,'' itself a successor to the show ''Come Dancing'' (1950–1998) ...
'' season eight, partnered with season six winner, professional dancer Mark Ballas. In the finale, the tightest in the show's history, Johnson beat Gilles Marini by less than 1%. She was the youngest champion in the show's history at that time.
In April 2009, she appeared in the music video "Do You Love Me" by Ballas Hough Band wearing one of her ''Dancing with the Stars'' costumes. Later, she reunited with one of the show hosts, Tom Bergeron, at the 82nd Scripps National Spelling Bee to discuss her victory.
On September 24, 2012, Johnson again became a contestant on ''Dancing with the Stars'', on the all-star edition ( season 15). Her partner this time was three-time champion Derek Hough
Derek Bruce Hough (; born May 17, 1985) is an American professional Latin dance, Latin and ballroom dancer, choreographer, actor and singer. From 2007 to 2016, Hough was a professional dancer on the American Broadcasting Company, ABC dance compe ...
. The team of Johnson and Hough came in 2nd place to Melissa Rycroft and Tony Dovolani, which aired on November 27, 2012. During the finale, Len Goodman called Johnson "The No-Stress Express", stating that every piece that was thrown at her, she pulled off with little stress, and turned out a clean performance. In week three, judge Bruno Tonioli called Johnson and her partner "The Incredibles" after their performance on stage, stating that it was "the best routine I have seen in 15 seasons in America f Dancing with the Starsand 9 in the UK f Strictly Come Dancing"
''Dancing with the Stars'' performances
In season eight, Johnson and her partner Mark Ballas were crowned the champions.
Johnson returned for the All-Stars Season partnered with three-time champion Derek Hough
Derek Bruce Hough (; born May 17, 1985) is an American professional Latin dance, Latin and ballroom dancer, choreographer, actor and singer. From 2007 to 2016, Hough was a professional dancer on the American Broadcasting Company, ABC dance compe ...
. Johnson and Hough finished as the runners-up.
Other television appearances
Johnson has appeared on many talk shows
A talk show is a television programming, radio programming or podcast genre structured around the act of spontaneous conversation.Bernard M. Timberg, Robert J. Erler'' (2010Television Talk: A History of the TV Talk Show', pp.3-4Erler, Robert (20 ...
: '' The Today Show'' (3 times), ''CCTV
Closed-circuit television (CCTV), also known as video surveillance, is the use of closed-circuit television cameras to transmit a signal to a specific place on a limited set of monitors. It differs from broadcast television in that the signa ...
'' (August 20, 2008), ''The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
''The Tonight Show with Jay Leno'' is an American television talk show broadcast by NBC. The show is the fourth and sixth installment of ''The Tonight Show''. Hosted by Jay Leno, it aired from May 25, 1992, to May 29, 2009, replacing ''The Ton ...
'' (August 24, 2008), the ''Late Show with David Letterman
''Late Show with David Letterman'' is an American late-night talk show hosted by David Letterman on CBS, the first iteration of the ''Late Show'' franchise. The show debuted on August 30, 1993, and was produced by Letterman's production com ...
'' (August 25, 2008), ''The Oprah Winfrey Show
''The Oprah Winfrey Show'' is an American first-run syndicated talk show that was hosted by Oprah Winfrey. The show ran for twenty-five seasons from September 8, 1986, to May 25, 2011, in which it broadcast 4,561 episodes. The show was taped i ...
'' (September 8, 2008), ''The Ellen DeGeneres Show
''The Ellen DeGeneres Show'' is an American first-run syndicated talk show that was hosted by Ellen DeGeneres. The show ran for nineteen seasons from September 8, 2003, to May 26, 2022, in which it broadcast 3,339 episodes. It was produced by ...
'' (4 times), '' Live with Regis and Kelly'' (October 22, 2008), and ''Jimmy Kimmel Live!
''Jimmy Kimmel Live!'', sometimes shortened to ''JKL'', is an American late-night talk show, created and hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, and broadcast on ABC. The nightly hour-long show tapes and is based out of the Hollywood Masonic Temple in Hollywo ...
'' (May 20, 2009).
In September 2008, she made a cameo appearance on '' The Secret Life of the American Teenager'' season one episode "Just Say No". She made a second appearance in the series, in the season two episode "Just Say Me", which aired January 25, 2010.
Johnson was a celebrity participant in the 2009 Taco Bell All-Star Legends Celebrity Softball Game which aired on ESPN, July 13, 2009.
In June 2009, Johnson was featured in a satirical news video by ''The Onion
''The Onion'' is an American digital media company and newspaper organization that publishes satirical articles on international, national, and local news. The company is currently based in Chicago, but originated as a weekly print publication ...
'' in which it was reported that she had been euthanized after breaking a leg.
On August 13, 2009, she appeared on the celebrity edition of ''Who Wants to Be a Millionaire
''Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?'' (WWTBAM) is an international television game show franchise of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? (British game show), British origin, created by David Briggs, Mike Whitehill and Steven Knight. In its format, cu ...
''. She correctly answered a question about the lyrics to "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer", winning $50,000 for her chosen charity, Blank Children's Hospital.
Johnson judged the 2010 Miss America
Miss America is an annual competition that is open to women from the United States between the ages of 18 and 28. Originating in 1921 as a "bathing beauty revue", the contest is judged on competition segments with scoring percentages: ''Priva ...
pageant.
In September 2013, Johnson was a guest star on the revival of ''Whose Line Is It Anyway?
''Whose Line Is It Anyway?'' is a short-form improvisational comedy show created by Dan Patterson and Mark Leveson. The three major versions of the show are the original 1988 British radio programme (from which all subsequent versions are ada ...
''
Johnson was a cast member for the 2015 season of '' Celebrity Apprentice''. She was the sixth contestant fired from the show.
Season 2 of '' Adventure Capitalists'', airing on CNBC in October 2017, featured Johnson as one of four investors looking to invest in aspiring entrepreneur-contestants' outdoor inventions.
Johnson competed on the special for the MTV
MTV (an initialism of Music Television) is an American cable television television channel, channel and the flagship property of the MTV Entertainment Group sub-division of the Paramount Media Networks division of Paramount Global. Launched on ...
reality series '' The Challenge'', titled '' Champs vs. Stars''. The special premiered November 21, 2017. Johnson was sent home in an elimination round by champion Tori Deal in the fourth episode, which aired on December 12, 2017.
In 2018 Johnson and her family were featured on ''Family Feud'' where they lost to fellow Olympic gymnast Laurie Hernandez's family.
In 2021, Johnson made a second appearance on ''Whose Line is it Anyway?''
Johnson appeared on an episode of Blippi! "How Crayons are Made!" in 2024.
Public appearances
Johnson led the Pledge of Allegiance
The U.S Pledge of Allegiance is a patriotic recited verse that promises allegiance to the flag of the United States and the republic of the United States. The first version was written in 1885 by Captain George Thatcher Balch, a Union Army o ...
on August 28, 2008, at the 2008 Democratic National Convention
The 2008 Democratic National Convention was a quadrennial United States presidential nominating convention, presidential nominating convention of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party where it adopted its national platform an ...
.
On July 27, 2009, Johnson led the singing of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" during the seventh-inning stretch
In baseball in the United States and Canada, the seventh-inning stretch (also known as the Lucky 7 in Japan and South Korea) is a long-standing tradition that takes place between the halves of the seventh inning of a game. Fans generally stand up ...
at Wrigley Field
Wrigley Field is a ballpark on the North Side, Chicago, North Side of Chicago, Illinois. It is the home ballpark of Major League Baseball's Chicago Cubs, one of the city's two MLB franchises. It first opened in 1914 as Weeghman Park for Charl ...
.
Gymnastic tours
From September to November 2008, Johnson was a marquee member of The Tour of Gymnastics Superstars. Recorded sections of the tour's second show were included in ''Frosted Pink with a Twist'', which is a television special about women's cancers (Johnson has a grandmother who is a cancer survivor). The television special also featured singers Jesse McCartney, Kenny Loggins
Kenneth Clark "Kenny" Loggins (born January 7, 1948) is an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist. His early songs were recorded with the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band in 1970, which led to seven albums recorded with Jim Messina (musician), Jim Mess ...
, Cyndi Lauper
Cynthia Ann Stephanie Lauper ( ; born June 22, 1953) is an American singer, songwriter and actress. Known for her distinctive image, featuring a variety of hair colors and eccentric clothing, and for her powerful four-octave vocal range;Jerome, ...
, and Carole King
Carole King Klein (born Carol Joan Klein; February 9, 1942) is an American singer-songwriter and musician renowned for her extensive contributions to popular music. She wrote or co-wrote 118 songs that charted on the Billboard Hot 100, ''Billbo ...
. Johnson also headlined the Progressive Skating and Gymnastics Spectacular in Rapid City, South Dakota, on December 23, 2008. The show aired nationally on NBC on January 18, 2009.
Books
In December 2008, Johnson unveiled a book, ''Shawn Johnson: Olympic Champion: Stories Behind the Smile'' (), chronicling her life story through personal photographs and quotes.
In June 2012, Johnson released another book, ''Winning Balance: What I've Learned So Far about Love, Faith, and Living Your Dreams'', about her experiences as an elite gymnast and post-Olympic life.
In June 2016, Johnson released a young adult novel, ''The Flip Side'', about a young gymnast trying to balance her dream of obtaining an Olympic gold medal with her desire to be a "normal" teenager.
Advertisements
Midwest grocery chain Hy-Vee, headquartered in Johnson's hometown of West Des Moines, ran television ads before and during the Olympics featuring Johnson. After the Olympics, Johnson appeared in television ads and online campaigns for Ortega ("Ortega makes my taco pop") and McDonald's
McDonald's Corporation, doing business as McDonald's, is an American Multinational corporation, multinational fast food chain store, chain. As of 2024, it is the second largest by number of locations in the world, behind only the Chinese ch ...
, as well as print and web advertisements for CoverGirl
CoverGirl is an American cosmetics brand founded in Maryland, United States, by the Noxzema Chemical Company. It was acquired by Procter & Gamble in 1989, and later acquired by Coty, Inc. in 2016. The Noxell Company advertised this cosmetics l ...
and Secret deodorant. Johnson also appeared on food packaging for McDonald's, Coca-Cola, Oscar Mayer Lunchables and Hy-Vee products. Reports by Johnson's agent, Sheryl Shade, that Johnson would grace the Wheaties
Wheaties is an American brand of breakfast cereal that is made by General Mills. It is well known for featuring list of athletes on Wheaties boxes, prominent athletes on its packages and has become a cultural icon in the United States. Originall ...
cereal box, did not come to fruition. Her likeness did appear on a limited edition Cheerios
Cheerios is a brand of cereal manufactured by General Mills in the United States and Canada, consisting of pulverized oats in the shape of a solid torus. In Europe, Cheerios is marketed by Cereal Partners under the Nestlé brand; in Austral ...
box in January 2009. In 2011, Johnson signed a sponsorship deal with Nike. Other endorsements include:
* Longines
Compagnie des Montres Longines, Francillon S.A., or simply Longines (), is a Swiss luxury watchmaker based in Saint-Imier, Switzerland. Founded by Agassiz family, Auguste Agassiz in 1832, the company has been a subsidiary of the Swiss The Swatch G ...
watches (2007)
* Crest toothpaste ( P&G)
* Sanofi-Aventis
Sanofi S.A. is a French multinational pharmaceutical and healthcare company headquartered in Paris, France. The corporation was established in 1973 and merged with Synthélabo in 1999 to form Sanofi-Synthélabo. In 2004, Sanofi-Synthélabo merg ...
pharmaceuticals (2008)
* Oroweat baked goods (2008)
* Circuit City
Circuit City Corporation, Inc., formerly Circuit City Stores, Inc., is an American consumer electronics retail company, which was founded in 1949 by Samuel Wurtzel as the Wards Company, operated stores across the United States, and pioneered th ...
* InterContinental Hotels Group
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), marketed as IHG Hotels & Resorts, is a British multinational hospitality company headquartered in Windsor, Berkshire, England. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange. It ...
* Eukanuba
* Nestle
* Bounty paper towels (2012)
* Mentionables Lingerie Line (2020)
Other work
Johnson has served as a spokesperson for the pharmaceutical company Sanofi-Aventis
Sanofi S.A. is a French multinational pharmaceutical and healthcare company headquartered in Paris, France. The corporation was established in 1973 and merged with Synthélabo in 1999 to form Sanofi-Synthélabo. In 2004, Sanofi-Synthélabo merg ...
, advocating awareness of women's cancers through the "What You Do Matters" campaign. Johnson has also partnered with Crest toothpaste to promote dental health, passing out toothpaste to low-income people.
Charity work
Since becoming a professional athlete, Johnson has been involved with numerous charitable causes. In December 2008, she co-hosted a charity event with fellow Iowa native actor Ashton Kutcher to raise money to repair areas of her home state devastated by flooding. She also supports the "Exercise Your Character" program through speaking engagements.
Stalking incident
On March 25, 2009, a stalker was arrested after jumping a fence and sneaking onto the CBS lot. At the time, Johnson was competing in the 8th season of ''Dancing with the Stars''. According to court documents filed in Los Angeles, 34-year-old Robert O'Ryan was arrested while in possession of guns, duct tape, zip ties, and love letters to Johnson, who was 17 at the time. O'Ryan left his home in Florida and traveled to California, believing that Johnson spoke to him through the television via ESP, stating that they would be together and have a child. The Johnson family filed a restraining order
A restraining order or protective order is an order used by a court to protect a person in a situation often involving alleged domestic violence, child abuse and neglect, assault, harassment, stalking, or sexual assault.
Restraining and perso ...
against O'Ryan. He was charged with felony stalking
Stalking is unwanted and/or repeated surveillance or contact by an individual or group toward another person. Stalking behaviors are interrelated to harassment and intimidation and may include following the victim in person or monitorin ...
, burglary
Burglary, also called breaking and entering (B&E) or housebreaking, is a property crime involving the illegal entry into a building or other area without permission, typically with the intention of committing a further criminal offence. Usually ...
, and two misdemeanor counts of carrying a loaded firearm in a vehicle. He pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, was convicted in 2010 on all counts, and was committed to Patton State Hospital for a maximum of five years.
Competitive history
Skills
The trademarks of Johnson's gymnastics were her power, difficulty and consistency, though she was considered weaker on the uneven bars and lacked great flexibility. She was the first American to complete a 2.5 twisting Yurchenko vault (Amanar). As of 2008, Johnson often competed the following skills on each apparatus (from 2005 to 2008 CoP):
Competition results
See also
* List of Olympic female gymnasts for the United States
References
External links
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Johnson East, Shawn
1992 births
Living people
21st-century American sportswomen
American Christians
American female artistic gymnasts
Angel City FC owners
Dancing with the Stars (American TV series) winners
Gymnasts at the 2007 Pan American Games
Gymnasts at the 2008 Summer Olympics
Gymnasts at the 2011 Pan American Games
James E. Sullivan Award recipients
Medalists at the 2007 Pan American Games
Medalists at the 2008 Summer Olympics
Medalists at the 2011 Pan American Games
Medalists at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships
Olympic gold medalists for the United States in gymnastics
Olympic silver medalists for the United States in gymnastics
Pan American Games gold medalists for the United States in gymnastics
Pan American Games silver medalists for the United States in gymnastics
Participants in American reality television series
Sportspeople from Des Moines, Iowa
Sportspeople from Iowa
U.S. women's national team gymnasts
World champion gymnasts