Take a Walk Down Memory Lane to Shawn Johnson’s Debut Olympic Games and Her Stellar Beam Performance
While the newest members of Team USA gymnastics are gearing up for the upcoming 2024 Olympics in Paris, older performances from gymnast legends have been circling once again on social media. One of the most memorable moments that continues to pop back up around Olympics time is Shawn Johnson’s 2008 beam performance.
The then 16-year-old Olympian made her debut at the Beijing, China Games, earning her a gold medal. Johnson took her talents to the beam where she performed a flawless routine. She became only the second American female gymnast to win the highest prize for that event after Shannon Miller’s 1996 win.
See Shawn Johnson’s balance beam performance here:
All about Shawn Johnson’s 2008 competition wins
The young gymnast’s gold medal win was thanks to a score of 16.225, topping the competition, including her teammate Nastia Liukin’s 16.025. Johnson also won a silver medal for the individual all-around with a score of 62.725. This time, she came in second to Liukin, who was also her roommate in the Olympic Village.
Along with her gold and silver medals, Johnson also earned herself two more silver medals for the team and her impressive floor exercise. Her incredible wins at her debut Olympic Games made Johnson an icon and raised the bar for future Olympians.
But her fame didn’t end with the Olympics. Johnson went on to appear on Dancing with the Stars in 2009, winning the season with her partner, Mark Ballas. That same year, she was the recipient of the 79th AAU James E. Sullivan Award, which is given to the most outstanding athletes at the collegiate or Olympian levels in the U.S.
Johnson also won an ESPY award that year for Best U.S. Female Olympian. Johnson even booked a two-episode arc on the series The Secret Life of the American Teenager.
Shawn Johnson’s life after the Olympics and leaving gymnastics
Nick Laham / Staff / Getty
Unfortunately, Johnson announced her retirement from the sport in 2012 due to a knee injury from a skiing accident in 2010. The gymnast knew she would be unable to perform at her peak without being able to properly train. “My body is to the point where I need time to rest and retire so I can be healthy for the rest of my life,” she said at the time.
Johnson also shared that her knee just couldn’t take it anymore. “It has been a constant battle since I came back…I pushed it to a point and tried to get to the finish line and I came up a little short. I can’t do it anymore. It was a hard moment. It was hard to sit here and be told your life in gymnastics is over.” Johnson further explained that she wanted to be able to have children and play with them, rather than pushing herself to the edge trying to compete.
What is Shawn Johnson doing today?
Once Johnson left the world of gymnastics, she moved onto other ventures. The gymnast wrote a few books, including the 2012 Winning Balance. In 2016, Johnson married ex-NFL player Andrew East. She fulfilled her dream of becoming a mother with her three children, daughter Drew, son Jett and son Barrett.
The now 32-year-old gymnast has 4.3 million followers on Instagram and 1.9 million on TikTok. Johnson also runs a YouTube page with her husband, which she calls “The East Family.” The couple often share videos with updates on their lives together, including “day in the life” and “get to know us” videos.
Keep reading for more on the Olympics!
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