PHOTOS: Fans head to U.S. Cellular Center for Shawn Johnson

Posted on Oct 10, 2009 by Angie Holmes.

Shawn Johnson answers a question from a young gymnast during the Food Fitness and Fun event at the US Cellular Center in Cedar Rapids on Saturday, October 10, 2009. (Crystal LoGiudice/The Gazette).

“She’s right there!” “She waved at me!”

The young girls, all area gymnasts, were thrilled Saturday to discover that Olympic champion and their idol, Shawn Johnson, was standing right behind them in the U.S. Cellular Center in downtown Cedar Rapids.

Then it got even better. Gymnasts from three clubs — Twisters and Cedar Rapids Area Gymnastics from Hiawatha and Somersaults of Cedar Rapids — got to lead Johnson around the arena and to the main stage at the “Food, Fitness and Fun” event. A few members of each team performed tumbling routines and then everyone sat around the stage to listen.

Johnson, who still seems a bit uncomfortable with all the fuss, faced the crowd of about 2,000 and spoke with a wisdom belying her 17 years: Be true to yourself, put your heart into what you choose to do and don’t worry about what others think or say about you.

“A strong body starts with a strong mind,” she said. “Shutting off the negative noise is not always easy.”

She urged her audience, and those young gymnasts, to realize that nurturing a good self-image is one of the most important things we can do for ourselves.

Video: Local gymnasts thrilled to meet Shawn Johnson

Even as a star in competitive sports and most recently on television’s “Dancing with the Stars,” Johnson said she is constantly being judged on her looks, as all young women are. She said she sometimes makes the mistake of reading blogs of her so-called fans, in which everything about her is criticized, from her hair to her arms to her diminutive height, 4 foot, 10 inches.

“You must take personal responsibility for your own well being,” she said. “Stay true to yourself — don’t let outside distractions get to you.”

She encouraged her peers to cut by half the time they spend on Twitter, Facebook and video games for a week, and focus on themselves instead.

“I’m not suggesting teens give up social networking and relaxing, but do it in moderation,” she said.

Johnson of West Des Moines was the headliner for the Food, Fitness and Fun event, sponsored by The Gazette and Hy-Vee. More than 60 vendors provided information and samples of their products, and there were demonstrations of health and fitness activities and cooking.

After Johnson’s opening remarks, Claire Kellett, KCRG-TV9 anchor, took the stage to moderate a question-and-answer session.

Kellet asked whether Johnson would be training for the 2012 Olympics. Johnson said she had not decided yet. As she has her entire life, Johnson said, she’ll make the decision based on what makes her happy.

She stressed that mantra to the young gymnasts on stage with her.

“Make sure you love what you do, whether it is gymnastics or math class,” she said. “Never in a million years, (would) I have thought I would be in the Olympics.”

Although she won a gold medal on the balance beam in the 2008 Olympics, Johnson said that she cherished the team competition the most. She said she still keeps in touch with teammates Samantha Peszek, Alicia Sacramone and Nastia Liukin, who won the all-around individual gold medal.
Even after Olympics success and winning ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars” earlier this year, Johnson still doesn’t consider herself a celebrity.

“I don’t think there’s been a change,” she said. She did admit, however, that fame can be “exhausting at times.”

Somersaults member Iralee Jewett, 12, wanted to know who Johnson’s idol was since Johnson is her idol.

Johnson said Kim Zmeskal, who was on the 1992 U.S. Olympic gymnastics team, is her favorite because of her positive attitude and determination.

Jewett said being face-to-face with her idol “was kind of intimidating.” But it was well worth it.

“She’s such a great gymnast,” she said.

Shawn Johnson in Cedar Rapids

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Photo by Angie Holmes