Olympic gold medalist Shawn Johnson has gone from conquering the vault, bars and beam in gymnastics to mastering the Argentine Tango, Paso Doble and Quickstep on season 8 of 'Dancing With the Stars.'Now that her pro partner Mark Ballas helped her win 'Dancing,' the 17-year-old Iowa native can add the coveted mirror ball trophy to her awards shelf.
Johnson, the youngest competitor in 'DWTS' history, chatted one-on-one with AOL TV to talk about her post-'Dancing' plans, how going to "regular school" helped make her a better gymnast and why she thinks she deserves your votes. -- By Mike Maloney
Dancing With the Stars Winners
Season 7: Brooke Burke
Partner: Derek Hough
Best Moves: Brooke dominated the competition from the start, topping the scores eight out of 10 weeks.
ABC
Season 6: Kristi Yamaguchi
Partner: Mark Ballas
Best Moves: Kristi had the perfect ending when she became the first contestant to score 90 out of 90 points in a 'Dancing' finale.
ABC
Season 5: Hélio Castroneves
Partner: Julianne Hough
Best Moves: In week eight, the judges were quick to give Hélio and Julianne's quickstep perfect tens. The next week, they followed up with straight 10s for their rousing renditions of the Foxtrot and Cha-Cha-Cha.
ABC
Season 4: Apolo Anton Ohno
Partner: Julianne Hough
Best Moves: Apolo and Julianne's chemistry sizzled mid-season when they finished in 1st place for two consecutive weeks, first for the Samba and then for the Rumba.
ABC
Season 3: Emmitt Smith
Partner: Cheryl Burke
Best Moves: Emmitt and Cheryl's moves improved all season, then danced it out of the park during the finale, earning 2 sets of perfect 10s for their Samba and Mambo.
ABC
Season 2: Drew Lachey
Partner: Cheryl Burke
Best Moves: The 98 degrees singer proved he could heat up the dance floor with Cheryl Burke; the dancing duo finished in 1st place for five out of the season's eight weeks.
ABC
Season 1: Kelly Monaco
Partner: Alec Mazo
Best Moves: Kelly proved she was a major threat for the 'Dancing' title when her Freestyle garnered three 10s from the judges.
ABC
1. People are saying this is the most competitive season ever -- do you agree?
Yes, I definitely agree. You can sometimes have an idea who's going to win [each week], but this is a very close season. It makes it all very exciting. In gymnastics you can know who the top ones are, but I love this. Here, you don't really know who's going to win.
2. What's next for you? College? Another Olympics?
I'm a junior in high school. I was in public school my whole life up until this year. I got too behind because of the Olympics. I've been doing online school, which takes care of my junior year. We'll see if I go back to regular school in the fall. I haven't decided what I'll be doing [after that]. I love that being on 'Dancing With the Stars' has opened up so many opportunities. This has showed me that I can do other things. I'm taking it one day at a time.
3. What will people learn from reading your book 'Shawn Johnson, Olympic Champion: Stories Behind the Smile'?
I wanted to get across that I'm just a normal girl. I didn't dedicate my life to gymnastics. The book's about going on vacation and going to school, all the things that everyone does. You don't have to sacrifice your life for one thing. I didn't let gymnastics rule everything else that I was a part of. I think that's what kept me happy and involved with it. I was definitely the oddball of the group. Everyone else was training eight hours a day and being homeschooled or tutored, I'd train for four hours. I definitely feel like I've started to change the sport a little bit. It won't burn you out if you [lead an otherwise regular life]. I probably had a more hectic schedule, but I loved it. I wouldn't have changed it at all.
DWTS' Report: Ty Eliminated
After weeks battling against near-perfect scores from all of their competitors -- not to mention being saved last week when Lil' Kim and Derek, who had higher scores, were sent home -- Ty Murray and Chelsie Hightower were eliminated from 'Dancing With the Stars.'
Leaving only three couples remaining to battle it out, Ty seemed OK with the fans' decision to send him home. Now it's down to Gilles and Cheryl, Melissa and Tony and Shawn and Mark for next week's finale.
Keep reading for our full backstage report, including an exit interview with Ty and Chelsie and reactions from the remaining dancers. -- By Mike Maloney
ABC
Ty, how do you feel about wrapping up your run?
Ty: We felt great about having a whole army of people behind us. I'm not going to lie -- I'm tired of learning dances. I'm so glad I don't have to go and learn two more dances this week. But if America had kept us on, that would have been motivation. The three couples left are such good dancers; it's time for me to get out of their way and let them get on with their competition.
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ABC
What's next for you?
Ty: I'm a founder and owner of the PBR (Professional Bull Riders, Inc.); I'm as or more proud of that than anything I've done in my career. I came on to the show to bring awareness to our sport and riding. We have great athletes.
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ABC
Will you take a vacation now?
Ty: Jewel and me will take a vacation, but I need to get back to the ranch and take care of some stuff.
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ABC
Chelsie, every couple comes back to the show for the finale for one last dance -- what will yours be?
Chelsie: The Salsa. It may not have been our best dance, but it was our favorite.
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ABC
How will you sum up your first season on 'Dancing With the Stars?'
Chelsie: Honestly, I couldn't have asked for a better celebrity. No diva-ness. Ty is very down to earth. He worked so hard.
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ABC
Will you go to work on Ty's ranch?
Chelsie: I'm not really a ranch girl.
Ty: She's as much of a rancher as I am a dancer!
Chelsie: I'm not high maintenance, but I just can't do the waking up early thing.
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ABC
Chelsie, will you be back next season?
Chelsie: I hope so! Cross your fingers!
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ABC
Ty, what did you think of your dances in the semi-finals?
Ty: We felt we did pretty good. We came in thinking that I was the fourth best dancer on the show. We wanted to go out and do our best. We did pretty close to that.
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ABC
Which of your dances do you feel went better?
Ty: I really can't tell the difference about which one was better. I have no idea. I just try to remember everything Chelsie told me to do. [But] it's like trying to teach a blind guy how to paint. I loved that Len gave her a shout-out. She's only 19 years old, it's her first year on the show and they gave her the block of wood. Every week, she'd go in and try to carve something out. She can say something more with her smile than most people can say talking all day.
Chelsie: Thanks, Ty!
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ABC
4. Was it hard to make friends at school given your gymnastics schedule?
I wasn't really treated any differently. Kids knew me from kindergarten. I grew up with them. Of course, there were some who were jealous ... there was definitely a group [of mean girls]. Being in the Olympics showed me who my true friends were and weren't. A few friends stuck with me through everything and I'm sure they will the rest of my life.
5. What's the one thing you'd like to say to the fans who've been voting for you all season?
Just that I hope they've been enjoying us. I think I'm one of the most improved this season. It means the world to me that I've overcome a challenge and have shown that I can do more than just flip. [Also] I'm sure I can find room [for the mirror ball trophy]. [Laughs]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Shawn, I live in Pleasant Hill, Iowa. You have done us SO proud.
I also live in Iowa and was a World Class Athlete. Shawn has shown that her determination, spirit, strength and ability is much bigger than just gymnastics. Iowa upbringing helps a lot too. Great morals and values plus very hard working ethics. You were wonderful on DWTS and truly deserved the trophy! Thank you for making us Gymnasts and Iowans so proud! Now go have some fun!
very beatiful,You have done us SO proud.
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Shawn Johnson was a class act at the Olympics and she continues to be a class act. Wishing her the best in her future endeavors.
Shawn, You've done a Big Job in Making America Proud of You Young Lady! As a Military Veteran, You are What "We' the Men and Women of the United States Armed Forces are Proud to Serve and Protect Within this Country of Ours. There are Many Good People in the USA and Your One of Them, Tops in More Hearts and Minds Than You Can Imagine. God Bless You, Your Family, Your Friends Who have Stood My You All These Years, and Your Future and May It Be a Long Happy Future.
Very noticeably absent in all of the post win comments by Sean was that Mark was a very large part of why she was able to pull out the win.......hmmmm!! Not very appreciative of her partners efforts it seems!!
Judy, I can't imagine you missing all the credit Shawn gave to her partner, Mark, for his coaching and friendship and patience in training her. They both admit although she had determination of an award winning athlete, dancing and gymnatics are very different - and she's never been that close to a man for that many hours a week and such. She also praised her competitors, both pros and celebrities. Shawn is always gracious and not so in to herself she doesn't share the credit of her accomplishments
She should not have won. Cheryl and Giles were the best hands down. Shawn had maybe 3 good dances, Cheryl and Giles were poetry in motion. Wrong decision. Several of my friends will never watch the show again.