Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson
Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson visited Paramount Gymnastics to applause from gymnasts, parents and coaches on Feb. 24.
Gymnasts from the USAG and JOGA team program greeted her with banners, posters, items to autograph and their cameras.
Ms. Johnson and teammate Nastia Liukin led the American women’s team to a silver medal in Beijing, China, in 2008. Shawn went on to win the silver all-around medal, gold on beam and silver on the floor.
Since then, Ms. Johnson has appeared on professional gymnastics tours and Dancing with the Stars and other television shows, and wrote two books.
Ms. Johnson promoted the American Cup at Prudential Center, Newark, which will be the first major international competition before the Rio de Janeiro Olympics.
Ms. Johnson thanked Paramount Gymnastics for buying 300 tickets in support of the gymnasts — Gabby Douglas, Maggie Nichols, Sam Mikulak and Donnell Whittenburg — who would be competing March 5 at the American Cup meet.
Ms. Johnson spent an hour discussing her career and answering questions from gymnasts from 5 to 18 years old. She autographed personal items and posed for photos with the girls in groups.
