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Star Gymnast Attracts Fans and Sponsors

Coke, Adidas love 16-year-old gold medal favorite

By Erin Mendell,  Newser User

Posted Mar 1, 2008 7:18 PM CST

(Newser) – Corporate sponsors like Adidas and Coca-Cola are latching onto a tiny gymnast with a towering talent named Shawn Johnson, the Washington Post reports. The smiling 16-year-old shares "brand attributes" with Coca-Cola like "genuine" and "fun," one exec says. She is also the world's reigning gymnastics champion and gold-medal favorite in Beijing this year.

Her parents took Johnson at age 6 to a gymnastics class in West Des Moines, Iowa, to give her an outlet for her boundless energy. Now on top of her game, she is trying to maintain perspective. "I'm pretty sure there's going to be more competition out there just because now I am the one to beat," she said. "I realize that. I accept that. But I'm still out there to try to beat myself, basically."                                                   

Gold medalist Shawn Johnson from the U.S. competes on the beam during the Women's Individual All Around final of the Gymnastics World Championships in Stuttgart, southern Germany, on Friday, Sept. 7, 2007. The 40th Gymnastics World Championships take place in Stuttgart from Sept. 1 to Sept. 9, 2007. (AP...
Gold medalist Shawn Johnson from the U.S. competes on the beam during the Women's Individual All Around final of the Gymnastics World Championships in Stuttgart, southern Germany, on Friday, Sept. 7,...   (Associated Press)
Shawn Johnson works out Friday, Feb. 29, 2008 in New York a day before the 2008 American Cup gymnastics competition. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Shawn Johnson works out Friday, Feb. 29, 2008 in New York a day before the 2008 American Cup gymnastics competition. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)   (Associated Press)
Shawn Johnson, who won two gold medal displays the trophy she was awarded for being the most elegant female gymnast at the Gymnastics World Championships in Stuttgart, southern Germany, Sunday, Sept. 9, 2007. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)
Shawn Johnson, who won two gold medal displays the trophy she was awarded for being the most elegant female gymnast at the Gymnastics World Championships in Stuttgart, southern Germany, Sunday, Sept....   (Associated Press)
U.S. gymnasts Shawn Johnson, who won gold on the floor, Alicia Sacramone, who won silver on the floor, and Anastasia Liukin, who won gold on the beam, from, right pose for a picture at the Gymnastics World Championships in Stuttgart, southern Germany, Sunday, Sept. 9, 2007. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)
U.S. gymnasts Shawn Johnson, who won gold on the floor, Alicia Sacramone, who won silver on the floor, and Anastasia Liukin, who won gold on the beam, from, right pose for a picture at the Gymnastics...   (Associated Press)
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Shawn Johnson - 2007 American Cup Balance Beam   (kommieliciousness (YouTube))

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COMMENTS
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Balancing school and competition
Los Angeles Times

Showdown on the road to Beijing
Dallas Morning News

Competing in the American Cup
Des Moines Register

 
Iowa • 2008 Beijing Olympics • athlete • gymnastics • gymnast • Shawn Johnson • gold medal

 
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