My other life keeps me calm and grounded and normal. Shawn Johnson More Quotes by Shawn Johnson More Quotes From Shawn Johnson In some ways the ACL tear was a blessing. I had hesitated to return to elite gymnastics after the 2008 Olympics. I told myself I had already accomplished so much, and the road was just going to get harder if I continued. Shawn Johnson gymnasticstearsblessing Critique the performance, and respect the hard work put in. Shawn Johnson critiqueperformanceshard-work There's always a chance. Anything can happen. Shawn Johnson anything-can-happenchancehappens It's been strange and weird watching the other girls at the U.S. Olympic trials just because I was training to be out there myself. Shawn Johnson traininggirltrials Well-I don't know if anyone would really ask me to prom. Shawn Johnson promask-mewells I set my phone with motivational quotes to go off on random days and times. Like, 'You're stronger than you think you are.' I'll forget about it, then one will pop up and it'll give me a little boost. Shawn Johnson phonesgivingthinking Gymnastics is not only a good thing to live by, but it is important to understand how it does help you in life. Shawn Johnson gymnasticsimportantdoe Everything is about your movements and precision and timing, which is what gymnastics is about. Shawn Johnson timinggymnasticsmovement I told myself after 2008 that I was done for good. But they say you can't keep a gymnast away from her sport. Shawn Johnson gymnastdonesports I was under pressure because of what people were saying about my physique. Shawn Johnson under-pressurepressurepeople I know how much more I need to do to be where I want. Shawn Johnson know-howwantneeds Were taught at such a young age that you can always be better and that youre never perfect and that youre never good enough. Shawn Johnson ageperfectbirthday I missed being considered an athlete and having that competitive drive, and missed having something to work for every day. I'd taken two and a half years away from the sport and was out of shape. I wanted to get back to where I was in 2008. Shawn Johnson takenathletesports Something my mom taught me when I was little is that everything happens for a reason. Shawn Johnson everything-happens-for-a-reasonmomlittles I started taking gymnastic classes when I was 3 years old. Shawn Johnson classyears If you lose the nerves, you lose the sport. Shawn Johnson gymnasticsnervessports 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 skiingolympicstraining I love lean meats like chicken, turkey. I'm obsessed with sushi and fish in general. I eat a lot of veggies and hummus. Shawn Johnson sushiturkeysmeat 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 heartbreakinggymnasticsmight I have a lot of expectations and a lot of goals I want to fulfill, but the biggest dream is still to make the Olympic team for London. Shawn Johnson teamgoaldream
