Brief:

Name: Shawn Johnson

Profession: Women's Artistic Gymnastics

Claims to Fame: 2008 Olympic women's balance beam gold medalist, individual all-around silver medalist, 2007 all-around World Champion, and 2007 and 2008 U.S. all-around champion. Forbes magazine named Shawn "America's Most-Liked Sports Figure" in 2009. ESPY award winner for "Best Female U.S. Olympian" in 2009 as well as the Teen Choice Female Athlete of the Year Award two years in a row. Participant and winner of ABC's eight season of the celebrity competition Dancing with the Stars.

Hometown: Des Moines, IA

Born: January 19, 1992

Height: 4'11"

Hobbies: Scrapbooking, shopping and walking dogs at a local animal shelter

Favorite Movie: Miss Congeniality

Favorite Music: Rascal Flatts

Favorite athletes: Lance Armstrong and Shaun White

Fun fact: Unlike other Olympic gymnasts who train more than 40 hours a week and are privately tutored, Shawn trained for only 20-25 hours a week while attending public high school where she received high honors and participated in several extra-curricular activities.

Bio:

Born on January 19, 1992 in Des Moines, Iowa, Shawn's mother says she skipped crawling and went right to walking by nine months of age. When she learned how to climb out of her crib shortly thereafter, her mom realized she was a natural-born acrobat.

Shawn took up gymnastics at the young age of three years old in a recreational program. Loving every minute, Shawn continued practicing her skills until she could join a team. When at competing at her first team event, Shawn peformed flawlessly and her family knew from that moment on she had exquisite talent and they may have a star on their hands.

In 2005, Shawn's junior career began with a 10th place overall finish in the US National Championships. Just one year later, Shawn won the same competition. Her senior career began in 2007 where she was crowned National Champion for the floor routine, balance beam and all-around. She was also the World Champion for the floor routine and the all-around category.

In 2008, Shawn's winning streak continued by taking the National Champion title for floor exercise and all-around category, qualifying her for a spot on the US Women's team in Beijng, China. At the Games, China, Shawn earned an individual gold medal in the balance beam and three silver medals in the individual all-around, floor exercise and team categories.

In April 2009, Shawn was named the 79th Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Sullivan Award recipient, one of the most prestigious honors in amateur sports. Shawn became the youngest ever contestant on ABC's "Dancing with the Stars," where she danced her way to becoming the Champion of season eight.

Shawn is involved in a number of philanthropic activities such as walking shelter dogs and working with animal and children's charities, as well as working with cancer charities, particularly those that affect women and children. Shawn is also involved in programs that help build good character amongst youth across the country.

Shawn hopes to attend an Ivy League school when she graduates high school in 2010. She would like to specialize in medicine and aspires to be a doctor as well as a gymnastics coach.