It might have been easier to retire, to say my knee couldn't handle it and let that be that. At the same time, the prospect of not being able to compete in gymnastics anymore was heartbreaking. Shawn Johnson anymorecompeteeasy Change image and share on social
Something my mom taught me when I was little is that everything happens for a reason. Shawn Johnson momreasonteach Change image and share on social
I had a constant fear, a constant little doubt in my mind: 'OK, I'm getting ready to do my standing back full on beam and I might re-tear my ACL.' Shawn Johnson aclbackbeam Change image and share on social
I think about my goals. There were a lot of times in gymnastics when I really didn't want to go in and train, but you can't make it to the Olympics if you don't train! Shawn Johnson goalgymnasticlot Change image and share on social
After 13 years of hard landings in gymnastics, one ski run had delivered the biggest injury of my career. Shawn Johnson bigcareerdeliver Change image and share on social
When I was 3 my parents put me in gymnastics because I was a bundle of energy and they just didn't know what to do with me! They put me in a Tots class and I just fell in love with it. Shawn Johnson bundleclassenergy Change image and share on social
My coach, Liang Chow, had one rule while I was training for the 2008 Olympics: no skiing. I could do anything I wanted outside the gym, he said, except ski. Shawn Johnson chowcoachgym Change image and share on social
Every year I just kept going back to gymnastics, but I didn't start out training 10 hours a day. When I turned 10 or 11, I got more serious and I focused a lot on making it to the elite level, and from there I just kept going. Shawn Johnson backdayelite share on social
I get less and less sleep these days, so when I have any down time all I want to do is sleep! Shawn Johnson daysleeptime Change image and share on social
To have any doubt in your body is the biggest weakness an athlete can have. There are times when I physically can't get myself to go for a skill because I'm thinking, 'My knee hurts really bad.' Shawn Johnson athletebadbig Change image and share on social
