![]() ![]() Nastia and Shawn are both good role models, and hopefully they will become better role models as a pair. They looked like a real team! Marta’s role was that of manager, not coach. They seemed so comfortable with each other. It was wonderful to see the individual coaches encourage all the girls on the American team. By not being the next Mary Lou, Nastia will in no way be associated with “Bela’s Girls.” I think it is time that Nastia’s father get some credit. More importantly, Nastia’s win puts more distance in the Karolyi dynasty. ![]() What Nastia brings the the post Olympic story is an expanded definition of “All American.” Her parents are former Soviet gymnasts who came to America and opened a gym. Mary Lou said in her Today Show interview that Nastia came in as former World Champion and Mary Lou was “an underdog.” (Meow). Her artistic gymnastics style will not be compared to Mary Lou’s and this is a good thing in my opinion. Then there is the legacy angle: Although Carly Patterson was the last American to win the All Around gold medal in 2004, Johnson has been touted as “the next Mary Lou Retton.” Why? Well both Johnson and Retton perform “explosive” gymnastics and both have that All American Smile, and as a bonus, both Shawn and Mary Lou’s smiles are genuine.īut Nastia is different: she is not cute, she is beautiful and has beautiful long limbs. Johnson won the last two national and world titles she is 16 Beijing is her first Olympics she is from Iowa she trains only 4 hours a day and attends public school her coach was born in Beijing and his gym was damaged in the flood. Honestly, if Johnson won the gold, I really don’t think they would be calling the pair “The Golden Girls” because Johnson had such a good story, and it’s the story that connects the athlete to the audience. I can’t picture both Johnson and Liukin together on the Wheaties box. It’s evident the media still wants Shawn in the spotlight because the pair has been called “The Golden Girls.” Well the fact is that there is only one gold medalist, Nastia. But leading up to the Olympics, Shawn Johnson was the headliner on the women’s team. Athletic rivals couldn’t ask for a better competition both were healthy and performed near flawless routines. Nastia deserved the gold.” But there was sadness in her eyes maybe not for winning silver, but probably because the All Around Finals are over. She was quoted saying, “I gave my heart and soul out there. Watch NBC tonight to see the women vault into Olympic superstardom.Hopefully. Bridget Sloan disappointingly was forced to scratch from the meet. Returning Olympians Nastia Liukin and Alicia Sacramone are working hard to impress coach Marta Karolyi, who will ultimately name the team of five women later Sunday night after the second day of competition concludes. ![]() Jordyn Wieber is well on her way to securing a place on Team USA with Shawn's training partner Gabby Douglas just a pointed toe behind. Related: Muse to Debut Olympic Theme Song Today I didn't want to let myself compete before I knew I was at my best and I still had a ways to go to get there." It is admittedly "rough" for Shawn to be sidelined while her former opponents and teammates continue to chase their dreams, but, "my standard and my bar was set so high that knowing where I was and how far I had left to get back to 2008 and what I was then. With the pressure of fierce competition off her muscular shoulders, the Dancing With the Stars champ is looking forward to savoring every moment of the Olympic experience at this year's games. ![]()
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