I’ve been adding HQ captures of Shawn’s and Mark’s winning season of Dancing With the Stars in 2009. Shawn looks sooo gorgeous and is mesmerizing as a dancer!

DANCING WITH THE STARS > SCREENCAPTURES > S08E1

DANCING WITH THE STARS > SCREENCAPTURES > S08E2

DANCING WITH THE STARS > SCREENCAPTURES > S08E3

DANCING WITH THE STARS > SCREENCAPTURES > S08E4

The name of U.S. and Olympic champion gymnast Shawn Johnson usually isn’t the first thing to spring to mind when discussing the politics of Washington, D.C.

But thanks to U.S. Rep. Bruce Braley, D-Iowa, Johnson is now part of the legislative dynamics on Capitol Hill.

Braley introduced a bill, called the “Shawn Johnson Fitness for Life Act,” on Dec. 7. The legislation is aimed at expanding health and wellness programs for children by using technology.

It is right now in the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, and according to Braley, it could take several sessions of Congress to wind itself through the process to become law.

“You look at the disconnect that occurs, when you look at how education funding has reduced the emphasis on physical education as a general concept, but at the same time we ignore the direct connection between a lack of exercise, lack of good nutrition in our kids,” Braley said. “Having Shawn Johnson, an Iowan, is such a great combination to help spotlight the intention of the bill.”

Johnson has never had a bill named after her before, and it’s a new highlight to add to her growing resume filled with four Olympic medals.

“Having a bill in my name is a huge honor and having the bill be specific to a cause I feel very passionate about is makes it all the more special,” Johnson told TeamUSA.org via email.

So how did a gymnast training in Des Moines for the London 2012 Olympic Games and a congressman in Washington, D.C., get connected for a bill? Johnson visited Congress in March, testifying about the Paralympic Movement.

“Going to talk to the legislators in March was definitely a little intimidating at first, but I loved it,” Johnson said.

While she was there, she met Braley, and the two discovered a mutual interest in fitness, kids and all things Iowa. Braley also knows a little bit about gymnastics as his daughter, Lisa, competed in the sport as a child.

The meeting ended up with Braley authoring a bill in Johnson’s name. The Shawn Johnson act seeks to expand a program that was started through the University of Northern Iowa and Grundy Center (Iowa) School District seven years ago.

Through the use of iPods, pedometers, heart-rate trackers and other electronic technology, kids in the district saw their fitness rates improve. The kids responded to the technology, and the physical education teachers found a new way to teach fitness.

Braley has wanted to do something to help expand the Northern Iowa program for a while. The bill would bring the program to 10 more colleges and universities, training physical education teachers enrolled in master’s degree programs on how to best teach with technologies. He introduced similar legislation in 2010, but it did not become law.

Johnson also likes the idea of getting more kids moving, helping battle childhood obesity and building healthy lifelong habits.

“Being an athlete, and one that started in athletics when I was 3-years-old, I have always had a true passion for leading an active lifestyle,” Johnson said. “Anymore though, seeing how many kids would rather sit on a couch and watch TV then go outside and play with friends is disturbing. I feel like whether it is in a P.E. class, during recess, or at home, kids should be having fun doing any kind of activity they enjoy and be given the opportunity to find an outlet they have a passion for.”

“So,” Johnson continued, “with this bill I’m really hoping that approaching athletics and exercise in a more up-to-date and relatable fashion to kids will hopefully spark their interest again and get them having fun. If they learn the habit as a kid, it sticks with them for life.”

Aside from the legislation, naming the bill after Johnson is an also not-so-subtle tribute from one Iowan to another. Braley said he knows the positive impact Johnson has had on their home state through her athletic successes.

“Shawn is a great spokesperson for the Olympic movement and gymnastics, and now education,” Braley said of the 2008 Olympic balance beam gold medalist and three-time gold medalist from the 2007 World Championships. “She’s a genuine person, she’s never forgotten where she came from, and that’s what we need to help change the way we look at fitness.”

Johnson is humbled by Braley’s praise, and is still very proud to call herself an Iowan.

“Everywhere that I have traveled and even lived for periods of time the last few years, the only place I call home is Iowa,” Johnson said. “To me, being an Iowan just means being true to who I am.”

Recently, GK had the privilege of spending time with Shawn Johnson at our Spring 2012 photo shoot. In between shots, we talked with Shawn about her recovery and comeback. Shawn was absent from the sport of Gymnastics for a little over two years after she sustained a knee injury while skiing in Colorado in January of 2010. She was on a fantastic trip at the time celebrating her 18th birthday, but took a bad fall. Upon her return home, she got the news that she had slight ACL and meniscus tears and would need surgery. In May 2010, Shawn announced that she would return to competitive gymnastics. Shawn has been coming back ever since with her eyes on London in 2012.

SJ1 GK: What made you decide to come back after all of your success out of the gym?

SJ: What made me decide to come back was that, I missed the sport. After I had my little accident with my knee and surgery, the one thing that scared me the most was, “what if I can never do gymnastics again?” It was a reality check that I really did miss [gymnastics]. I had, not necessarily unfinished business, but I just missed being in the gym. I wanted to give it another shot so that I wouldn’t look back five years later, ten years later … and wonder, “what if I gave it a shot? what if I gave it a try?” I love it. I love being back.

GK: How is your knee?

SJ: The knee’s good. Good days and bad days, it’s getting there. They said it will take a while. I had a full reconstruction so, I’ve got a ways to go, but hanging in there.

GK: What is your training schedule like now?

SJ: The training schedule now is pretty intense. I go six days a week in the gymnastics gym, doing four to five hours each day. Then almost every day, six to seven days a week, I’ll do an hour or two in a fitness center. I’m doing quite a bit.

GK: Are you working on strengthening and cardio?

SJ: I’m working on everything. Strength, cardio, conditioning, knee stability, flexibility. Taking two and a half years off has definitely been hard, but it takes a lot more training time to get back to where I want to be.

GK: Since medaling in 2008, is your comeback approach different as you look towards the 2012 games?

SJ: I think my approach on the whole is a lot different. I think it’s day and night from the first time because I didn’t take a break the first time. It was just something that I had done my entire life. And now, it’s starting over. I’m starting from scratch and remodeling and rebuilding my whole foundation. I’m a different person this time around. I’m older. I’m different and I’m doing a little different gymnastics. I don’t know if I can tell you exactly what we are doing differently, but the whole system just feels different to me.

GK: Is it harder?

SJ: Yeah. Yes. [Laughing]. It’s a lot harder. I feel like the first time I had such an innocent mind, a naïve mind, not to know what it took to get there. It just kind of happened. Whereas, now, I know exactly what it takes. That’s what’s scary. You know you have to go into the gym every day and give 110% or you won’t make it. It’s overwhelming.

GK: What do you like most about your GK Signature Leotard Collection?

SJ: What I like most about my Signature Leotard Collection with GK is that I think it’s so me! I’ve always been different in the way that I dress and the way I act. I’ve never adhered to standards or “the norm.” I think you see that in my line. I choose really cool colors. I mix and match things. I do different backs and styles that a lot of people wouldn’t even think of. I take a risk and I love designing gymnastics leotards for GK! {gkelite.com}

Bruce Braley, Shawn Johnson introduce P.E. legislation

U.S. Rep. Bruce Braley and Iowa’s world famous gymnast Shawn Johnson are teaming up on federal legislation to bring more technology into school physical education classes.

Johnson, a gold medalist in the 2008 Olympics, joined Braley, D-Iowa, in a conference call Wednesday to announce the Shawn Johnson Fitness for Life Act, which if passed would provide grants for 10 universities to incorporate more technology into their master’s degree programs for physical education. A partnership between the universities and local schools and communities would be required as well.

Braley said the measure was necessary to address childhood obesity, which he called an epidemic in Iowa and nationwide.

“Expanding technology use in PE class will make fitness more engaging for kids and more effective, teaching students how to stay active and combating childhood obesity,” Braley said.

The bill is modeled on a partnership between the University of Northern Iowa and the Grundy Center Community Schools, in which UNI students pursuing master’s degrees in physical education teach PE classes and use new technologies to track their students’ fitness and tailor activities to their ability level.

The bill was formally introduced in Congress on Wednesday morning.

If passed, the U.S. Department of Education would administer the competitive grants, which would be available to universities that currently offer masters programs in physical education and partner with a local school.

The universities and schools would be free to decide what technologies to bring into PE classes, Braley said, including heart-rate monitors and computerized fitness assessment programs, but perhaps also fitness or dance video games that require physical activity.

“This is perfect next step to trying to make fitness and exercise part of kids’ lifestyles,” Johnson said. {desmoinesregister.com}

An Iowa congressman and an Iowa Olympian are taking on problem of childhood obesity.

Experts say one in four Iowa kids is overweight or obese. Representative Bruce Braley is introducing a bill to drop those statistics and it’s called the “Shawn Johnson Fitness For Life Act.”

It would offer grants to colleges that would help implement a technology-based PE program in a school district. The program could include everything from heart monitors to video games that get kids moving.

“You see how much they enjoy being on a Game Boy or being in front of computer and really being a part of the technology side of things and if you can incorporate that to exercise and PE, hopefully it will spark their interest enough so they can take that next step into leading a healthier lifestyle, ” says Shawn Johnson.

Grundy Center already has a technology-based program with the help of the University of Northern Iowa. Braley says the pairing serves as a model for the bill. {Who TV}

Background:

Since 2004, the University of Northern Iowa and the Grundy Center (Iowa) School District have partnered together to improve physical education classes by emphasizing the use of technology.

UNI offers a masters degree program in physical education that emphasizes the use of technology in teaching. Graduate students in this program work as full time PE instructors in Grundy Center, where they learn to incorporate technology like heart monitors, computerized fitness assessment programs, and pocket PCs into their curriculum. The technology allows instructors to better tailor PE activities to individual students’ ability level and teaches students to track their own progress. UNI researchers also use data from the program to study the effectiveness of PE courses.

The Shawn Johnson Fitness for Life Act:

The Shawn Johnson Fitness for Life Act expands the concept behind the successful UNI-Grundy Center partnership to more schools. The bill creates a new grant program to fund the expansion of masters’ degree programs in physical education at 10 colleges and universities. The masters’ programs must emphasize the use of technology in PE teaching and innovative teaching practices.

Colleges and universities that apply must already offer a masters’ degree program in physical education and must pick a local school district to partner with for implementation of the program.

Any college or university that receives grant money would be required to do the following:

• Instruct masters’ degree candidates on the incorporation of technology into PE and new ways to teach physical education.
• Develop curriculum that puts into practice new teaching methods that have been researched.
• Offer programs that extend the program into the community.
• Increase the availability and quality of physical education at the school district.
• Requires that masters’ degree candidates spend the majority of their instruction time at the local school.
• Each masters’ degree student must serve as a full time student teacher at a school served by the school district.
• Actively promote the masters’ degree program in the community

Fitness for Life grant funds may be used for the purchase of equipment and technology to increase or enhance physical activity and fitness levels. This can include, for example, heart rate monitors, fitness assessment systems, or pocket PC’s.

Funding can also be used for stipends for masters’ degree students and for administrative costs for participating colleges and universities.

Bill text:

The Shawn Johnson Fitness for Life Act [PDF] {braley.house.gov}

I’ve captured Shawn’s brief cameo’s in The Secret Life of the American Teenager. She plays a high school girl named Shawn :

Media & Interviews > TV Show Appearances > Secret Life of the American Teenager > S1E11: “Just Say No” Screencaptures

Media & Interviews > TV Show Appearances > Secret Life of the American Teenager > S2E16: “Just Say Me” Screencaptures

Shawn posed for some updated USOC portraits for the 2011 Olympics. They were taken November 16th at Smashbox Studios in West Hollywood.

Media & Interviews > Photoshoots > 2011: USOC Portraits

Shawn’s new leotards from GK are out for the Holiday season, and there are new photos of Shawn modeling them, as well as screencaps of the current catalogue, and BTS pics of the photoshoots!

Media & Interviews > Photoshoots > 2010 – 2011: Elite Gymwear > Photoshoot

Media & Interviews > Photoshoots > 2010 – 2011: Elite Gymwear > Photoshoot BTS

Media & Interviews > Photoshoots > 2010 – 2011: Elite Gymwear > Catalogue

Olympic gold medalist Shawn Johnson is in Portland, hoping to inspire her young fans.

FOX 12 caught up with the gymnast on Tuesday before she made a guest appearance at Aries Apparel, where she met fans and signed autographs.

Johnson says she loves being a role model.

“It’s an honor. It’s something I’ve worked for. If I can hopefully inspire or motivate some little girl or boy to get into a sport and be active and follow their dreams, then I’ve done my job,” she says.

Johnson says she loves Portland because it reminds her of her home in Des Moines.

She is currently training for the 2012 Olympics in London. In 2008, she won a gold medal for balance beam. {kptv.com}

West Des Moines gymnast Shawn Johnson won a silver medal on Thursday in the uneven bars at the Pan American Games — after helping the United States win team gold earlier in the week.

Johnson talked to the Des Moines Register this morning about her performance and trip to Guadalajara, Mexico:

Question: What’s your next assignment?
Answer: “It depends on what Chow wants to do. There’s the London test event in January. (Which gives the Olympic organizing committee a chance to road test the operation to make sure everything runs smoothly for the real Games in September.)

Q: We didn’t hear much about your foot or knee during the competition. How are they?
A: “The ankle was definitely bad timing, but I don’t think it kept me from much. The knee’s doing great. I’m starting to put my floor routine together. Knock on wood. I’m really excited to do floor. ”

Q: Beam is supposed to be your best event, but you won a world championship on floor exercise. Which do you like best?
A: “I love floor. It’s the one event you get the least nervous about. You can go out and just perform. I miss it so much. I really miss doing all-around.”

Q: You won four gold medals in the Pan Am games four years ago. You added a team gold this time and barely missed winning another on bars. What does winning this silver mean?
A: “Making the bars finals was huge for me. I had that one hesitation, but Bridgey (Coquatto) earned it. That girl is made of nails. She’s been an inspiration and a motivation the entire trip.”

Q: It looked as if you got a nice reception from the crowd. The live web feed showed you blowing a kiss after your bars routine. What was that about?
A: “It was a group of five Mexican girls wearing letters that spelled out ‘Shawn.’ They went so crazy and cheered so loud.”

Q: How did they respond to your gesture?
A: “I think they all just about passed out.”

Gold Medalist Shawn Johnson shares secrets of USA Gymnastics Success

2008 Olympic Gold Medalist Shawn Johnson repeated her awe inspiring gymnastics performances at the Pan American Games in Mexico this week. The results speak for themselves. Team USA won Gold in artistic gymnastics and Johnson won an individual medal, as well. In a press event today following her victories earlier this week, she credited her passion and her love for this sport with her continued success. The nineteen year old athlete is a tribute to the prime goal of the US Olympic Committee. That is to “inspire the people of the world.” This might sound like a public relations motto, but Johnson has shown it is both achieveable and credible. The Iowan trains at home in Des Moines, far away from the media advisers in New York and Los Angeles, and gives candid, straight from the heart, interviews that are every bit as moving as her graceful athletic performances.

Johnson’s account of her personal path to success is inspiring to everyone who aims for success in their own field. She explained that her parents enrolled her in gymnastics at age three because she had so much energy she was like a little cyclone around the house. (Olympic Gold Medalist Ashleigh McIvor’s mother Marilyn reports her daughter was the same.) Early training in gymnastics helped Johnson realize that her passion for gymnastics was paramount above all else.

Johnson’s passion was also essential for her to make the sacrifices needed to become a top gymnast and to recover from a serious injury. She trains continuously with only a few breaks of just a few days each year. Rigorous training and travelling makes it difficult to stay involved with typical teen social activities. And Johnson has had to find the inner strength to recover from injuries so severe a weaker woman might never compete in sports again. As she descried the difficult choices she made during this difficult moment of truth, “the injury taught me I need to learn how to face challenges.” Jumping over this hurdle has given her even more confidence to achieve new goals at the Pan American Games and aim for a peronal best at the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London.

Johnson’s family has also had to make sacrifices to help her achieve her personal best. USOC training facilities are available to athletes ranked in the top ten percent nationally who are also over age sixteen. Johnson has been in the top ten percent since she was twelve, but did not meet the age requirement for a USOC training center coaching and cost of living scholarship. So her family took out a $40,000 second mortgage on their house to pay for her training for the 2008 Olympics.

This interview also revealed that all the women on the US Gymansitcs Team train separately while attending schools in their local communities. They meet about once a month for joint training and co–ordination. Johnson did not specifically describe this as similar to military joint–forces training, but the similarities and benefits are notable. These monthly training meetings substantially improve skills as these talented young women learn from each other.

Shawn Johnson’s down to earth description of her daily life in Iowa and her passion for gymnastics are helping to redefine celebrity in a positive way that fits this decade well. Says Johnson, “I am just like the people in the crowd who are watching me. They see that and they can relate to it.”