Shawn Johnson will stay for the finish

BEIJING -- Most of the gymnastics delegation is going home Friday. Not Shawn Johnson. She and her parents Doug and Teri are staying until the closing ceremony.

Because the gymnastics competition began the day after the opening ceremony, none of the athletes marched into the Bird's Nest. Teri Johnson said there was no way her daughter was going to miss this opportunity.

"Shawn can hardly wait," Teri said. "That was never a question."

Johnson's agent, Sheryl Shade, said that Johnson had also enjoyed meeting other athletes in the village, especially track cyclist Taylor Phinney. Apparently Phinney lived in the room below the one shared by Johnson and all-around champion Nastia Liukin.

"They were able to go out on their balconies and talk," Shade said. "But no romance. Just friends."

-- Diane Pucin

Photo: Balance beam gold medalist Shawn Johnson. Credit: Martin/Presse Sports via US Presswire

Comments

[kabonfoot]

wow!...that was great!..nice post!...Kabonfootprint

[kabonfoot]

wow!...that was great!..nice post!...Kabonfootprint..

[Farfel]

This kid is a class act. May she have a long and fruitful life for all she has given us this year.

[KIMBA]

I am so glad she stayed. It showed she was there for the experience, and not just the medals. And, could she have looked any more adorable during the Andrea Kramer interview? Shahn has poise well beyond her years and exemplified the true Olympic spirit in ways other athletes will never comprehend (Lightning Bolt? How about boring dolt...). She always had a good thing to say....about everything. Even the disapointment of only wearing silvers couldn't put her down, but when she got the gold, when all the pressure was on top of her, she lit up like the opening ceremony. That is why the two week+ Olympic experience is so special to Americans.