Shawn Johnson Retires; Gymnast Now Trying to 'Figure Life Out'
Shawn Johnson, four-time Olympic medalist who won a world championship in 2007, officially announced her retirement from gymnastics Sunday.
Johnson, 20, was due to make a comeback in the 2012 Olympic games in London, two years after suffering a debilitating ski accident that resulted in a knee injury. Although she was gearing up to return to the Olympics after her last performance on the 2008 USA Women's Gymnastics Team where she won one gold and three silver medals, Johnson admitted that she was not in shape to compete.
''It just little by little gets worse and worse. My body is to the point where I need time to rest and retire so I can be healthy for the rest of my life," Johnson told The Associated Press Sunday. "It's hard to wrap my mind around. Gymnastics has been my entire life, and now it's no more.''
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The Olympian who once won the "Dancing With the Stars" competition, admitted that she was apprehensive about a future without gymnastics after engaging in the sport as a little girl.
"I'm scared to death to know what the future holds because it's kind of a blinded road I've never thought about, but I'm excited as well," Johnson told ESPN. "I'm ready to start the journey."
On Tuesday, Johnson will release a memoir with Tyndale Momentum titled Winning Balance: What I've Learned So Far About Love, Faith, and Living Your Dreams. However, the Christian gymnast admitted that she has many goals outside of the sport and was attempting to figure out life without gymnastics.
"Looking to the future, I have many goals. This is the first time in my life where, when I wake up, gymnastics will not be my sport anymore," Johnson told ESPN. "A normal day was always going to practice at 2:30. Now, it's a little different. I'm trying to figure out what to do with the rest of my life."
