The Silver medalist from the Olympics beats the Gold medalist at the Olympics for amateur sport’s most prestigious prize?
That makes no sense.
I’ve completely lost respect for the Sullivan Award.
Read commentary on the IG Forum.
On Twitter Shawn linked to this photo on TwitPic.
UPDATE: Many disagree with me. Check the comments.
Seems there are two main reasons why #2 beat #1 for this award:
Johnson was second in online fan voting, which counted for one-third of the total. Barboza had 31 percent of the vote, Johnson 27 percent, Hansbrough 13 percent, swimmer Dara Torres 10 percent, Liukin 7 percent and the 4×100 swimming relay 5 percent. It is awarded based on leadership, character, sportsmanship and the ideals of amateurism.
related – Latest Sullivan Award makes little sense
56 comments ↓
Congratulations to her, but if its based on 2008 performance, then I think Nastia was the obvious choice. Maybe the award will be Nastia’s in 2012?
Shawn deserves this just as much as Nastia. Shawn worked just as hard. Good for her!
Everyone seems to forget that Shawn also won a gold medal. I agree that Shawn deserved the award.
To say that Nastia deserved this just because she won the Gold AA Medal is hypocritical on your part. You forget that Shawn won gold on the balance beam. Plus, this has more to it than just the type of medal or how many medals one has. This award goes beyond that and other qualities – leadership, sportsmanship, and chaaracter. Not to say that Nastia doesn’t exhibit those qualities as well, but most people saw how Shawn carried herself throughout the Olympics, and how she treated and respected her competitors. She handled herself with grace and people saw that. You also forget how she tried to comfort Alicia Sacremone after Alicia’s mistakes led them to capture the silver medal in the team gymnastics.
She also won nationals right? Do they take that into account because that would tip it towards Shawn. National title + 1 gold and 2 silver Olympics medals whereas Nastia was 2nd at nationals + 1 gold and 2 silvers (even though the gold was more ‘meaningful ‘ than Shawn’s).
Either way good that a gymnast won.
Oh and can Nastia or Shawn be eligible again? Aren’t they now ‘professionals’?
Not to mention Shawn as 2007 World Champion
oops my bad Shawn got 3 silvers and Nastia a bronze… duh I totally forgot about floor..
Therefore Shawn 1 gold 3 silvers
Nastia 1 gold 2 silvers 1 bronze…
Whatever anyway. I’m happy for both of them
no nastia got 1 gold, 3 silvers and 1 bronze.
totally agree that nastia should have gotten it, based on what shes been through and one of her silvers was a TIE for first place decided based on tie breaker….
totally agree with you coach rick
Nastia got 3 silvers, Team, UB, and BB
She won Nationals. She has beaten Nastia more often than losing to her.
The right person won.
I think after losing to Nastia for AA gold, this is good for her. Nastia’s not crying, that’s for sure!
[Quote]She won Nationals. She has beaten Nastia more often than losing to her.
[/Quote]
In 2007, Nastia was coming back from a major injury was clearly not in her best form. In 2008, Nastia beat out Shawn at American Cup too….
And as for Shawn has an Olympic gold, the Olympic gold on beam does not equal an Olympic All Around Gold Medal…Nastia has more Olympic medals than Shawn (and really tied statistically for Gold on uneven bars) Not to mention the fact that Nastia is tied with Shannon Miller for most world medals of an US girl, and will probably beat Shannon at this years worlds.
…and most people still prefer Shawn. Sucks to be Nastia.
THE AWARD HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH HOW MANY MEDALS YOU HAVE OR WHAT COLOR THEY ARE!!!!
The Sullivan award is all about leadership, character, sportsmanship, and the ideals of amateurism. In fact they specifically say “The AAU Sullivan Award goes far beyond athletic accomplishments and honors those who have shown strong moral character.”
So it really doesn’t matter that Nastia won the AA, or that she has more medals. The committee thought that Shawn represented the qulaities they were looking for the best and they gave her the award.
I think I have lost respect for this blog after this post.
Nastia only wins from Russian judge cheating. She should get about a point off for her dismount alone. She’s a frog.
It’s kinda funny that an award from the AAU goes to athletes who don’t even compete AAU.
Rick, I think you should post your reasoning as to why you think Shawn didn’t deserve this award. Then people may not be so upset.
I think that saying you lost respect for an award because they didn’t choose who you thought should win is a bit extreme. Both girls have their merits, and seeing as the award isn’t about the number or quality of medals they’ve won, there isn’t one clear winner.
While I don’t necessarily agree with their decision, I do respect it and understand Shawn fulfilled their criteria better.
“Nastia only wins from Russian judge cheating. She should get about a point off for her dismount alone. She’s a frog. ”
not exactly
in her best shape, leg sep is -0.3, flexed feet is -0.1; low chest is 0.1 in her case, that’s .5
now please stop being bitter
There’s also a large step, usually. Also a deep squat. And I’m including the leg separation and bent knees (froggy legs, 0.2 total) for the bail.
P.s. I’m not a good routine judger. Just a fan. I like hearing your routine analysis.
“Johnson was second in online fan voting, which counted for one-third of the total. Barboza had 31 percent of the vote, Johnson 27 percent, Hansbrough 13 percent, swimmer Dara Torres 10 percent, Liukin 7 percent and the 4×100 swimming relay 5 percent.”
From the Des Moines Register.
The thing is the Sullivan Award goes way beyond athletic accomplishment to leadership, character,etc. It is in no way based off of how many medals either of them received. Nastia already received her award for winning more medals…when she received more medals. And let’s face it, if it was based just off the number of medals won, the men’s 4×100 relay team with Phelps completely blows both of them out of the water (err, so to speak).
Also the Sullivan Award is 1/3 a fan vote. I hate to say this because I love her gymnastics (bars dismount aside) but Nastia often comes off pretty cold to many casual fans, those that watch gymnastics during the Olympics and maybe Nationals. I know many gymnastics fans see her “bitch face” as just a focused competitor, but many in the general public that I have talked to during the Olympics and afterward mentioned that she seems arrogant, entitled, unhappy, etc. Contrast that against the always-smiling Shawn who was shown over and over comforting Alicia and I can see how Shawn would have won that vote, easy.
The fact that they’re considered amateur athletes is what disturbs me.
“…Nastia often comes off pretty cold to many casual fans,…” I actually think Shawn’s fan vote got a bump because she’s been on DWTS. I don’t think it has anything to do with people not liking Nastia’s “bitch face.”
Besides DWTS, Shawn’s fan vote may have been influenced by the Olympic PR.
Shawn’s “story” was a bit more emotional, maybe, factoring in her coach? With the right PR, maybe Nastia’s could have been better (it is good drama, daughter of Olympic champions, pressure’s on, etc.). But I think the idea of the small Iowa town, previously little-known coach, his nationality + host country, her being (if my impression is correct) one of the first girls that came into his gym when he opened it, etc. all factored in to a better “American girl” story. Compared anyway, to the heartless gymnastics machine/champion factory WOGA may be perceived as.
Obviously, no real “evidence” to support that idea. Just a hunch.
First, I’m glad it went to a gymnast.
But I find it funny how most have over looked the fact that Shaw was billed as a normal all American kid who would not let gymnastic interfere with having a normal teenager’s life.
Less 7months later, I guess the normal teenager’s life is living in LA, away from friends and family, performing on a TV show, and going to school online/tutors.
All for a senior elite career in gymnastic of what 18months?
Good for her. There’s really no need to get all worked up.
To be honest, despite it being the “Oscar of sports,” I doubt the Sullivan itself guarantees legendary status. I mean, Sarah Hughes? C’mon now. Talk about a flash in the pan figure skater who barely left an imprint in the sport. Shawn will ultimately be a blip in gymnastics history. Other than hardcore gym fans, who really remembers world AA champions without looking them up?
I’d have to agree with Sabrina. I’ve watched both of the girls – in awe. In my opinion, Shawn won hands down!
Shawn just comes across as a innocent and sweet person. Her personality shines through, she doesn’t seem like she knows it all.
Nastia comes across like she has a big chip on her shoulder. This is where we see the “blank face” and we think oh she’s a b****.
On first impressions, and the art of gymnastics, people watch the body language. Shawn shows great character and shows qualities of great sportsmanship, which I’m understanding this is what the award was about.
How many medals you have doesn’t show who you are as a person. The friends and support you have do!
I agree with you, Coach Rick. I think Nastia should have won it based on AA gold and five medals. She also came back from a severe injury. I don’t have anything against Shawn winning it though, Nastia has won five major awards since August.
I guess I really don’t like awards that allow voting because it becomes a popularity contest. Shawn is more popular than Nastia and doing DWTS certainly hasn’t hurt either.
During the Olympics, some co-workers of mine were saying they felt Shawn was the “true American.” I think that’s a sad opinion, but I believe many people feel that way here in America.
Ally, it really is a shame but it’s true. Many Americans also love bubbly, happy people and consider those who don’t express their feelings in similar fashion snobs. Rather than awarding a gymnast who has achieved much greatness through the years and strives to continue to do so, they chose a shiny, happy teenager who, after a short period of success, most likely has already left the sport (she’s kind of the Tara Lipinski of gymnastics, without the Olympic all-around gold). Way to go.
Nastia lacks a double back. And her double front has such a wide cowboy, that it is an automatic B move.
I’m going to say that while I think Nastia is amazing on beam, to me, in team competitions, like Worlds, or the Olympics, she doesn’t act like a team player and that she acts like it’s all about her and whats in for her. This probably isn’t true, but it comes across the TV like that. Shawn on the other hand doesn’t. Shawn was shown comforting Alicia and talking to the other girls. Nastia wasn’t really shown that. That’s all I’m saying as why I think AAU chose Shawn over Nastia.
The Sullivan award is not about medals so those shouldn’t even been considered. Its about sportsmanship.
Just a note. Shawn been up for this award has NEVER been mentioned on DWTS so many people who watch that show didn’t even know she was up for it unless they went to her website.
The result is a joke.
What about Nastia’s behaviour at any of the World Championships or the Olympics she attended gives you the impression that Liukin is not a ‘team player’ Katrina? Jesus, the girl even went to Aarhus with a broken foot and stood up two bars dismounts to keep the American team in touch in the team competition. She would have been far better to stay at home and recuperate than compete on her foot. I am sick to death of people throwing these kind of observations around without following it up with any real evidence. Both of these young ladies are fantastic athletes and both of them represent their nation exceptionally well.
It is true that the Sullivan Award is not just based on medals but I think most people can agree that given what she overcame to even be in Beijing (with her injury struggles for more than a year), the way she carried herself both before, during and after the Olympics particularly with regard to the bars controversy and the underage allegations against the Chinese (that despite being presented many opportunities to weigh into she didn’t) and the fact that she not only had a more successful Olympics and won the two major international meets held on US soil last year, Liukin was the only gymnast who should have won this event. The Sullivan Award and those who are on their voting panel look extremely foolish at this point.
I should also add that the online vote was a complete joke. Johnson and Barbosa’s fans spent hours clearing cookies and submitting vote after vote. You were only supposed to be able to vote once. Someone even put in an auto vote for Liukin who jumped from 9% to over 30% in literally hours before having those votes removed. All the vote proves was who had the biggest fan base prepared to spend hours cheating the results.
I agree with your sentiment Rick. This result is an embarassment to US sport. One has to question whether the accusations regarding Nastia’s heritage have played against seem to have some weight.
Also, you aren’t the only one who shares this opinion.
http://www.cleveland.com/dman/index.ssf/2009/04/latest_sullivan_award_makes_li.html
lifting me, it’s my own personal observations and what I perceive coming across the screen at me. Personal. That means my opinion. I don’t have to justify my opinion with anything because it’s just that, an opinion, not scientific proof.
“Johnson and Barbosa’s fans spent hours clearing cookies and submitting vote after vote”
Show me. I’ve never seen any physical evidence relating to that. And it’s Barboza.
I followed the vote and the related comments. It was clear they were both doing it. There were even instructions posted on Shawn’s website telling others how to do it. I don’t blame any of the athletes for the actions of their fans but the simple fact is that the “vote” was a total sham from start to finish and not a viable reason to argue that the right athlete won.
I always enjoy when people pull the “personal” reason argument when questioned. Basically means you have nothing to offer and pretty much settles me point.
http://aausullivan.org/
James E. Sullivan. Based on the qualities of leadership, character, sportsmanship, and the ideals of amateurism, the AAU Sullivan Award goes far beyond athletic accomplishments and honors those who have shown strong moral character.
The award is not just comparing how many medals you won. Shawn showed an outstanding sportsmanship towards her foreign competitors. She never whines and complains when she was in defeat. She hugs everyone who performs well and she consoled Cheng Fei and Alicia when they cried over their messed up routine.
Her personality is also well-known humble, down-to-earth and sweet. That’s why she has more favor to win this award although she got less medals than Nastia.
Nastia discredited her class when she usually shows her sour face when someone performs and scores better than her. This action is very obvious in the Olympics bars final.
The one who is considered being robbed the Olympics bars gold is Yang Yilin. He Kexin hugged her after Yang finished her routine. Although Yang Yilin felt a bit upset of not in rank 1 in the begins, but she still handled it and smiled again. But Nastia kept her sour face in the whole competition.
That’s why Nastia lose a lot of respect by gym fans especially in China.
http://tieba.baidu.com/f?kz=477695571
Shawn was highly credited by Chinese gym fans for her sportsmanship and the appreciation towards the competitors, not just because of her Chinese coaches.
http://cache.tianya.cn/publicforum/content/funinfo/1/1240340.shtml
Amid US gymnastics disappointment, Shawn Johnson’s grace:
http://features.csmonitor.com/olympics08/2008/08/13/amid-us-gymnastics-disappointment-shawn-johnsons-grace/
“No matter what Johnson does in two days’ time on the women’s all-around competition, I hope the world will remember that image – of a 16-year-old girl who is not only an extraordinary athlete, but also something altogether more profound and worthy of celebration: an uncommon human being.”
“No matter what her performance in the individual all-around Friday, perhaps nothing at these Games will be more precious than that one moment, when we all caught a glimpse of a young woman whose gifts stretch well beyond the world of sport.”
Nastia did not have a sour face at all! She was just showing emotion and being REAL, unlike Shawn who pasted a fake smile on her face when she lost. Are we really supposed to believe that Shawn was happy and proud to win a silver medal in AA? How dumb do we look?
Also, everyone seems to forget that Nastia was coming back from a MAJOR ankle injury when Shawn was coming into the senior level. Nastia made at least 1 major error in every competition that she lost to Shawn while working to come back from her surgeries. Funny, how when neither makes a major error, Nastia takes the gold! Nastia deserved this award just like she deserved the AA AND beam gold. The sport should be about artistry too, not just power. Shawn brings nothing to the sport that people before her (Mary Lou, Kim Zmeskal) haven’t brought. Nastia brings something that no one before her ever brought. She’s amazing and comparing her to Shawn is like comparing apples to oranges. Kind of like saying Shawn won a gold too, so they are even??? AA Gold vs. beam gold? I don’t think so. If AA wasn’t the biggest deal in the sport, Shawn wouldn’t have been crying when she lost! Nastia did it when it counted and overcame much adversity to get there, unlike Shawn.
Katrina, since the award was for 2008, it doesn’t really matter if Shawn was 2007 World Champion, does it? If that’s the case, Nastia should have won since she has 9 world medals dating back to 2005. People like Shawn’s pixie face and her smile. Guess what? It’s really easy to smile when you’re winning. I didn’t see too many real smiles from her in the AA competition. You also can’t go by how many titles each has in the past 2 years, as Shawn HAS NEVER BEEN INJURED. This is a huge deal in any sport, but especially in this one. Nastia spent an entire year coming back from her serious ankle injury. Shawn never had to do this. There is no comparison between the two, so don’t go there.
Thank you ‘lifting me up’. I agree completely with all of your posts. America is so misinformed about this. I don’t think there should be any fan vote allowed. It’s totally ridiculous and only a popularity contest.
To say that Nastia is not a team player is completely ludicrous. She only competed on her fractured ankle at 2006 Worlds for herself, right? She only went straight over to Alicia Sacramone to comfort Alicia after her fall off beam for herself, right? Just because someone is attractive, has a beautiful body, is reserved, and doesn’t past a fake smile on their face, they are always perceived as a b_tch. America, as usual, is totally wrong!
apolytongp, that is the dumbest comment I’ve ever heard. Shawn lacks any bar skills, so what’s your point? Nastia is the most artistic gymnast this country has EVER seen. She is more quiet and reserved than Shawn, but just as gracious. Shawn may always be smiling, but that’s pretty easy when you’re winning, isn’t it? What adversity has Shawn had to overcome?
Everyone counted Nastia out and there was little focus on her to win the AA. That made her victory even sweeter. Nastia not winning the AAU Sullivan award and now hearing that Sarah Hughes had won previously, just makes me know what a joke the award is. Who cares at this point. Nastia’s laughing all the way to the bank and training hard for future competitions.
Nastia wasn’t even second choice!
I’m glad Shawn was there to represent gymnastics!
Nastia not just only showed her sour face in 2008 bars final. In 2007 bars final, she also showed scorn towards Semenova when she was scored over Nastia. Nastia and her father usually whine and attack the judge totally make her lose the class. If you think it is sportsmanship, I have no words to say.
Very well said, Lifting me!
Guest, just because Nastia isn’t smiling all the time doesn’t mean she’s showing scorn. Also, funny that you should bring up the Chinese gym fans crediting Shawn so much. The Chinese were one of the first to rip Shawn for her post Olympic weight gain.
Shawn does equivalent releases to Nastia and a way better dismount. I mean Nastia has a bazillion dismounts to choose from and the best she can do is that monstrosity? And Shawn’s form is WAY better. If you remove piro connection (which should be removed, it’s a swing event), than Nastia has little to offer.
FORM, FORM, FORM.
Nastia is a frog. An up-ended frog.
I don’t blame Nastia not smiling, but she actually showed the scorn when she didn’t get rank 1 in 07&08 bar competitions. If you want some capture, I will send to you.
Some Chinese sports media is stupid and ignorant. They usually like to make topics about somebody’s weight and shape. Even Cheng Fei was also rumored about some negative topics about weight gain by those stupid media, but does it mean gym fans lose the respect to Cheng?
Comments contained in here about Johnson’s ambivalent attitude to future competition:
http://www.kcci.com/news/19213893/detail.html
shawn johnson has a great bar dismount, but aside from that, nastia liukin is infinitely better on the event! her form on a couple skills is not where it should be, but seeing how difficult her routine is, i’m okay with that.
Bev, if we’re only looking at 2008, then it doesn’t matter that Nastia had to overcome an ankle injury because she was injured in 2007. She was healthy in 2008.
Also, for everyone counting medals (which is not what the Sullivan Award is based on), did it occur to anyone that Shawn beat Nastia in every competition at the Olympics except the AA? Shawn scored higher than Nastia in qualifications, competed on all 4 events in team finals while Nastia competed on 3, and scored higher than Nastia in floor and beam finals.
Both ladies deserve this award. Both showed great sportmanship and are accomplished athletes, but only one can win the Sullivan Award.
Gymnast-J = I would have to agree with you on this one. The award is not fully based on who is the best in the sport. I am very happy Shawn won. I would of been happy for either.
You people are all ridiculous. You have no proof that Shawn Johnson is fake, and that Nastia is cold. Leaving rude comments on the internet is not going to change the outcome of who won the award.
IHATESABRINAPIRO!
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