Confirmed on her blog.
World and Olympic gold medalist Shawn Johnson (U.S.) is among the 13 contestants for the upcoming season of ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars.”
… The 17-year-old gymnast will be the youngest contestant yet on the hit reality show that pairs celebrities with professional dancers.
… If Johnson were to win, she would not be the first Olympic champion crowned on the show. Speedskater Apolo Anton Ohno won season four and figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi won season six.
“Dancing With The Stars 8″ premieres March 9 from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. on ABC, and will run through May. …
Does Shawn have the personality and maturity for this challenge? (She’s gots to be better than Steve Wozniak.)
(via BodyRhythm)
Shawn is not much in the gym. Only conditioning and running right now.
Many are commenting online that gymnastics competition in 2009 seems almost out of the question. And that “Alicia might have been a better choice for this TV show”.
Likely Shawn knows that Lilia Podkopayeva won the Ukranian version of Dancing with the Stars in 2006.
12 comments ↓
I think she’ll have more maturity than say Steve – O *eye roll* Though a LOT will depend on who she’s paired with. As the shortest competitor (though L’il Kim is not fart behind at 4’11″), it will be a challenge. I’m hoping she’ll be paired with either Louis Van Amstel or Mark Ballas. I think in terms of personality (because that also plays a role), Mark would be a better teacher. Louis though is a very amazing dancer but has a different style to teaching than many of the other pro dancers.
Alicia would definitely have been a better choice. I think Shawn is great, but not for this. silly ABC.
Are they the same people who thought it would be a good idea to send Alicia to Beijing so she could crumble under the pressure?
And seriously why would you ask a question about Shawn’s maturity and then post a photo of her when she was like 12?
Seriously Trex?
No, these aren’t the same people who thought it would be a good idea to send Alicia to Beijing. Also, Alicia was the right person to be selected for the team at the time. She may not have competed at her best, but last time I checked we can’t decide who should be on the team after the Games are over.
NBC chose Shawn. I think if USA-gymnastics had its choice, Shawn would be in the gym training, not on Dancing With The Stars.
I would rather have seen Alicia on DWTS. She has the right attitude and personality for that show. It’s great for Shawn, but it’s hard to imagine her doing a seductive paso doble, not to mention the costumes the women wear on that show!
Paso isn’t suppose to be seductive anyway ally
Rumba, yes, but Paso Doble, no
alicia would have been a better choice BY FAR! she has more time, if shawn was serious about gymnastics, she would be in the gym like nastia is. its obvious shawn won’t be competing again. her heart isn’t in it anymore i think
Alexa, it’s only 16 weeks at most! She’s not giving up gymnastics. Jesus. Give her a break and let her do something fun!
Shawn had her heart broken with the AA theft. Alicia is way hotter sexually, but Shawn is truer for the team.
I, too, would have preferred to have seen Alicia on Dancing with the Stars. She had actually mentioned wanting to maybe do the show at some point, she’s not someone that claims to still want to compete, and as far as I’m concerned, she’s more suited to dancing. Oh well, I guess…
I just don’t see Shawn Johnson as a dancer, much less a ballroom dancer. I hope I’ll be proven wrong, but then again, I almost hope she gets voted off early so that she gets her butt back in the gym. It’s just weird that she keeps SAYING she wants to keep competing, but I saw an interview online not long ago where she said hadn’t even talked with her coach about reworking her routines for the new code. And now she’s taking Dancing with the Stars…it worries me. There aren’t a lot of “comebacks” that wind up being very successful, so if she takes to much time away from the sport, I just don’t see her coming back. IF she really wants to keep competing–and isn’t just saying so out of some feeling that she’s obligated or something–I really hope that I’m wrong, and we see her back sooner rather than later.
Shawn is acting like a typical teenager and changing her mind about competing, not competing, etc. Whaddya gonna do?
Let kids be kids. I think Alicia is a far better dancer and more interesting to watch than Nastia or Shawn but maybe Shawn will learn some dancing moves so her routines are not so about big tumbling and elements. Either that or Alicia needs to take her under her wing.
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