Shawn Johnson's Winning Balance

Wednesday, April 7th, 1994 started out like any other day, I was attending Jr. hHigh sSchool, in St. George Utah. As a I was a young 12 year old girl that was obsessed with gymnastics, I breathed it, studied it, and lioved it. Gymnastics was my Life.! I daydreamed about competing in front of hundreds of people, lights dimmed down, the spotlight right on me as I performed each skill I worked so hard at perfecting each day at practice. I would picture myself going over my routines, every step, every pose, each body positions, how I’d present myself, f . . . . everything. I wanted to be a college gymnast.

Shawn was in the I Am Second video which expressed her story and her experiences at the Olympics, ( "I am Second"). The video gives a better understanding of her feelings, what she was faced with besides competing, and what she had to push through in order to succeed. She talks about how she felt winning the silver instead of the gold and the reactions that other people had towards it. In the video, she talks about how she remembers everything about the Beijing Olympics and the moment she knew she was not going to win gold, "…well if you can't win the gold medal at least prove to the world you deserve it...." ("I am Second"). She knew that she was not able to win the gold medal in that event but instead of giving up she wanted to show the world that she deserved it. She goes on to say how she felt disappointed by winning the silver instead of the gold and she thought the world would think that she had failed since everyone thought that she was going to bring home multiple gold medals ("I am Second"). At one point after the Olympics, her parents even thought she was depressed and should go see someone about it. It was not until practice, one day, where she realized that putting herself through all of this was not worth it and that everything was going to be okay. She said at that moment it felt as if the world was lifted off of her shoulders. Shawn Johnson impacted the world of gymnastics, in ways that some athletes would never admit, by saying it is okay to

I work as a gymnastics coach at Trousdell Gymnastics Center. It is a recreational center that provides programs for all Tallahassee residents, specializing in gymnastics and exercise. The goal of this organization is to provide a safe and affordable program that keeps the community fit and engaged. They offer recreational gymnastics classes for boys and girls of all ages. There are also preschool and kindergarten programs for the younger children. On the other end of the spectrum there are adult classes that teach gymnastics and overall fitness. In addition, the gym offers classes for children with special needs. Finally, Trousdell offers a competitive gymnastics program for exceptional boys and girls. Three Olympic gymnasts have come through this program. Trousdell Gymnastics Center is named after a former Tallahassee Parks and Recreation Director Randy Trousdell, a man passionate about his community and the health of its children. Since it’s opening over 60 years ago the gym has impacted 500,000 children’s lives. I coach recreational classes for girls ages seven to fifteen years old. I begin every class by leading an extensive stretch and then we go to the events of the day where I set up stations for gymnasts to practice different skills. I end every class with conditioning to help the gymnasts grow stronger so that they can perform skills successfully. Trousdell Gymnastics Center coaches have a responsibility to these children. It is our goal to make the two hours a

On January 19, 1992 in Des Moines, Iowa, Shawn Johnson was born. Her parents never imagined that she would become an Olympic Gymnast one day. Shawn’s life has had many ups and downs that led to her very successful gymnastics career. Her early years showed her energy and charisma. She advanced her gymnastics career with this and showing everyone what she could do. She had to deal with the pressures of being nationally known. Her accomplishments were of legends, and the impact she had on children all over America was outstanding. Shawn Johnson was always a bit of an outsider when she was young, but in gymnastics she fit in completely.

A popular saying around every gym, field, track, and weight room is that it, no matter what activity “it” is that a sportsman is participating in, is ten percent physical and ninety percent mental. For the kids who hear this daily, it is nothing more than a hollow statement a coach says to make them feel better about being physically subordinate to their opponents. I have heard this mantra throughout my life on the baseball field, football field, track, gymnasium, in the weight room, and on the wrestling mat. Just like those poor aforementioned kids being yelled at by their coach, this statement just bounced off me, never finding a sticking place among all my doubt and insecurity. Nowhere was this more true that on the wrestling mat; Coach Jaimez has told my teammates and I this countless times, and not once throughout my first four years of wrestling did this ever sink in. I am ashamed of this, as those athletes in the know, whether they be in High School or draped in their nation’s flag competing for a gold medal, know that this statement could not be more true for the sport of wrestling. Wrestling is a mental sport that is determined by a competitor’s decision to focus on himself rather than his opponent and the competitor’s confidence in himself and his potential to succeed.

“Challenges are what makes life interesting and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.” Some people have to overcome challenges to have a meaning in life and not just give up. This is exemplified in, “The Contender,” by Derek Burnett, “Life in the Red,” by Benedict Carey, and “ Paralympic Star makes history on NBA stage,” by E Lancaster. After reading and annotating the articles about a determined Kyle Maynard, motivational Blake Leeper, and a resourceful Lakeisha Tuggle one could make the choice be successful in life and give up. But to do these things, you have to have a good attitude and “cut out” things that aren't a necessity.

Soon after the competition Jacie’s Coach got a call from Aly wondering if she could train Jacie. Of course, Jacie was thrilled, she began to work everyday doing whatever she could with her broken foot. After what felt like 1,000,000 days, actually 6 weeks, Aly began to train her! They were constantly working and getting Jacie ready for bigger things. Just 3 years later, with the help of coaching, Jacie went to Olympic Trials. After the first day she was in 6th with a devastating fall on beam, but the 2nd day she killed it! She could not have possibly done better! Jacie had made the team, she would be going to the 2020 Summer Games in Tokyo, Japan. Of course, Aly went with her as Jacie’s coach. Jacie competed all events and the All-Around. With 3 golds (All-Around, Floor, Bars) and 2 silvers (Beam, Vault), she led her team to the 2020 gymnastics Olympics Champions. With the help from Aly ,her coach, her dreams came true. One of Jacie’s favorite things she ever said was, (to Aly) “WOW, I am so glad I broke my leg back in 2017! I would have never become the Olympic champion! I am so happy that you have helped me and you are the best Coach I could ever ask

At the time, this left her to be the fourth American woman to ever claim this title. With hard work and dedication, it was now time for Johnson to train for the 2008 Summer Olympics (Comcast Interactive). Further down in her career, she was introduced to Dancing With the Stars and gladly accepted the challenge. Accompanied by Derek Hough, they portrayed a first place finish and revealed to America what talent really was (“DWTS: All Stars”). Not only was Johnson a successful athlete, she was also a prosperous entrepreneur. Creating a New York’s best selling book in 2014 titled, “What I’ve Learned So Far About Love, Faith, and Living Your Dreams” (“About Shawn Johnson”). Blogging on her website is not only her hobby but, gives fans an insight of her daily fashion and fitness. Shawn Johnson developed national awareness for women’s gymnastics due to her success in the Olympics, winning Dancing With

To anyone who dedicates their life to sports, especially athletes, any injury could be career ending. However, no matter the injury, the athlete refuses to take “no” for an answer when it comes to their active sport dreams. Full Out is a 2015 dramatic biography of gymnast Ariana Berlin who dreamt of winning gold in the Olympics and attending University of California in Los Angeles (UCLA), home of many strong Olympic gymnasts. Nonetheless, after enduring a car accident that left her with a broken wrist, two broken femurs, a broken collarbone, broken ribs, two collapsed lungs, pancreatitis and in a coma for 5 days, doctors claimed that she would never fulfill her dreams of being an Olympic gymnast; or a gymnast at all for that matter. Ariana

Grace Hauge began gymnastics when she was about 6 years old, and enjoyed it so much. Her mother wanted her to join a more advanced group, so she joined Hamline. She quickly advanced to a more experienced group. There she was asked to join the Spirit Gymnastics club team at Hamline. Luckily she was given a choice and she agreed. During Grace’s six years of training at the Spirit Gymnastics club team, she gained friendships, a fit body, discipline, and time management. Not meaning to seem or sound snobby, Grace and her mother were both aware of what the sport could bring to Grace 's life. However, it was not until Grace 's coach, Doug Burns, also commented on the success ahead of Grace, that Grace felt pressured to follow through with the

Ever since that summer, I have grown with a newfound strength of mind—a strength that has carried into every aspect of my life. Never again would I determine my worth based upon how I stacked against others; my happiness is rooted within. My academics made strides as I welcomed each challenge as a chance for individual progression. Just the same, my relationships with family and friends strengthened. For weightlifting has formed a destiny that transcends beyond myself: to empower and guide those around me towards an understanding of their inner strength and, in turn, an unshakable source of

Everything had led up to this moment. There were the remaining two finalists at the 2006 Winter Olympic Games, ready to risk it all. I tensed my shoulders, ready to make the final jump that would land me onto the podium. After jumping off the bed and nailing a perfect landing, I was an all American gymnast. I ran toward the makeshift gold medal, a marvelous sight made of a single dollar coin taped to a piece of yard. I looked backwards to see how the other finalist had fared, and every compelling emotion swapped places for a single word: dread. Forty minutes later, we were at JFK’s emergency center, awaiting the results of my brother’s MRI.

“Never had I stopped, so why should I start now.” I thought, as every inch of my body plead in agony, especially my feet. It’s a silly motto; however it helped me throughout many challenges in my life. With it, I never gave up even when the only plausible option was to resign. Throughout every risk there was a reward. A lesson learned, that in every competition you better yourself as a person, you grow in confidence, and winning is not the only definition of success.

As my eyes quickly scanned all the judges, one of them saluted me. I felt my hands fly into a gymnast salute. This was going to be the first year I would be competing a three series on beam. I was going to be throwing a back handspring stepout, back layout stepout, back layout stepout. I felt myself clutch the beam with my sweaty palms as I mounted. I did my turn and jump connection and surprisingly everything was going very well. I started feeling more comfortable and confident. I happily danced across the beam preparing for my series. I closed my eyes and imagined myself perfectly doing the skill. I swung my arms back beginning my back handspring, my chalky, sweaty hands hit the beam. I flew into my first layout step out and came down on the beam perfectly. I set up for my last

No longer am I the girl in school who accepts everything that given to her, who sits quietly in the back of the class, who plays it safe and does not take chances. I am the girl who challenges new ideas, whose hand waves in the air waiting for the teacher’s acknowledgment, who is not afraid to fall down because I will always get right back up again. I am truly thankful that I took the leap to join the gymnastics team that I hold dear to my heart. As a result, I strive to exert benevolence and acceptance at every opportunity, as gymnastics has taught me to respect and value others because everyone deserves someone who they can call their