Throughout the immediate occasions right after afanatic skiing incident shredded Shawn Johnson's eventually left leg 2 yrs before, Johnson's 1st believed was basically: "Exactly what if I personally can't ever perform gymnastics once again?"Motivated with that what-if, Johnson started a good impossible recovery effort this past year.
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| Shawn Johnson announces the retirement |
Sunday, her Olympic journey came to an end because the 20-year-old from Des Moines announced her retirement from competitive gymnastics. Johnson, among the most common U.S.gymnasts of all time, also is probably the most decorated. Her profession consists of three planet championship gold medals and one particular gold and three silver Olympic medals."I nonetheless have each ounce of desire and passion to stick with it," Johnson told the Des Moines Register on Sunday. "But my physique is not allowing it."
With nationals in St. Louis beginning Thursday, followed by Olympic trials three weeks later on and Olympic team variety on July 1, Johnson mentioned she did not want to be a distraction."I am announcing this now so the concentrate for your following 3 weeks is going to be within the exceptionally talented gymnasts that are looking to make our 2012 Olympic Group," Johnson mentioned within a statement released by USA Gymnastics. "I have had the honor to train and compete with them, and I'm thrilled to join the gymnastics household and supporters in cheering them on to victory. I will be there with each ounce of pride and energy to cheer on my girls and Team USA."
Mentioned Martha Karolyi, women's nationwide team coordinator for USA Gymnastics: "Shawn will often hold a exclusive place in gymnastics and my heart. She usually showed the joy of undertaking gymnastics. Shawn was an excellent student in coaching as well as a fierce competitor during the arena. I will miss her, but I am confident that she will probably be quite productive in any endeavor that she decides to pursue."Final month on the U.S. Olympic media summit in Dallas, Johnson said she planned on beginning university upcoming year, deciding in between Vanderbilt and Stanford.
She'll stay in London over the summer season regarding her own vendors. Johnson, exactly who achieved "Dancing With the Stars," continues to be one of the most noticeable U.S. professional athletes through the run-up to the Olympic games, provided her high-profile nationwide sponsorships."Her own identity, smile as well as effective gymnastics gained equally fans and also medals," stated Steve Penny, Who is USA Gymnastics chief executive.
