At 17 years old, gymnast Shawn Johnson already has a long list of accomplishments.
In 2008, the Iowa teen won an Olympic gold medal in Beijing for her work on the balance beam. Last spring, America watched as she won the championship on “Dancing With the Stars.”
Last week, on the same day that the world got the news that Chicago would not host the 2016 Olympics, Johnson was in town for a Coca-Cola-sponsored party with other athletes.
Although the games will not be coming to her home country, she said she plans to be in London in 2012 but has yet to begin training. During the party, she spoke with TheMash.
It’s been a bit of disappointing day, Chicago didn’t get the bid for 2016. How are you feeling about Rio?
I’m excited for Rio. I was a huge ambassador for 2016 in Chicago, so it is disappointing and a bit of a letdown because we put so much hard work into getting it. But you know, it still is the Olympics and it’s about bringing everybody together and I think no matter what city it’s in, we’re still gonna go out there and give it our all.
It must be exciting being an Olympian, getting the chance to travel the world and represent your country. In your case though, rather than traveling just a couple of hours from your hometown in Iowa to Chicago in 2016, you’re going all the way to Rio. How does that change your feelings about the games?
It’s exciting. I would have loved to have it in the hometown — the heart of America — but maybe it’ll come back here next time. Rio’s a great city, I’ve competed there before and I think they’re going to do a great job.
