Olympic Gymnast Shawn Johnson Announces Retirement

Shawn Johnson

Shawn Johnson won our hearts in the Beijing Olympics, when she competed an d took home one gold and three silver medals. Now, the 20-year old has confirmed that she will not pursue a spot on the London Olympic team and she has decided to retire from the the sport she has dedicated her young life to.
“This is a really hard moment,” Johnson said Sunday from her home in Des Moines, Iowa. “I still have the heart, drive and desire to compete. Unfortunately my road has been cut a little short.”
Johnson had torn both her ACL an MCL and knew that the rigorous training demands for the upcoming Olympic games would simply be too much. “It’s been a constant fight. It came down to there wasn’t enough time left to heal,” Johnson said. “I couldn’t push myself any further. My knee physically wouldn’t let me do anymore.”