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Issue Date: July 27, 2008
Summer Olympic Preview
Ones to watch
By Dennis McCafferty
Shannon Miller expects Shawn Johnson to do much more difficult moves than she herself did in '96.
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When you watch U.S. gymnast Shawn Johnson compete in the Olympics, you'll see a world champion who is perfectly suited for this year's Games, which promise to be more physically challenging than ever.
That's because women's gymnastics events at the 2008 Olympics will require less pretty dance stuff and more sweat equity when it comes to flips, twists and other moves demanding pure strength and athleticism.
Johnson, 16, has trained since she was 3, and she's more than up to the task, given that she can twist her body 2 1/2 times while leaping off the vault. For that and many other feats, she is the reigning individual women's all-around world champion.
"The things that she can do are downright ridiculous," says Shannon Miller, the top performer on the 1996 gold-medal-winning women's team; she won an individual gold in the balance beam event, as well. "Shawn does flips and turns and moves that you're used to seeing the men do. Now, here comes this little firecracker on the floor doing the same things, and you're amazed."
Tune in to MOJO HD every weeknight starting Monday at 9 p.m. ET/PT for the first of 10 episodes of "A Shot at Glory," produced in partnership with USA TODAY Live. The series features 10 American athletes training for triumph in Beijing.
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Just after the U.S. trials, Miller and Johnson got together for a USA WEEKEND Magazine photo shoot and to discuss this year's Olympics. The competition will be defined by the intense rivalry between the United States and China. In the 2006 world championships, China came in first place while the U.S. team was second. But in last year's competition, the USA won a total of four gold, two silver and one bronze to China's one gold, two silver and two bronze -- fueling the rivalry.
"Both our team and China's are only getting stronger and stronger," Johnson says. "We respect each other, but we are competitors. This makes it more exciting for fans."
From a scoring standpoint, fans will see a huge change: If a gymnast's routine is given a "10," that's not a particularly good score anymore. There is no maximum amount of points, although 17 is generally considered something akin to the new 10. Instead, one panel of judges may deduct points for technical errors while another panel decides to add points based on the routine's difficulty and composition.
"I was initially disappointed because we won't have that perfect 10 score anymore," Miller says. "But if this helps further define how judges are supposed to score and helps fans understand that better, it will be good for the sport."
The fact that extra points will be awarded to gymnasts based on the level of difficulty of a routine's physical aspects should encourage them to try new, harder moves. "I'm excited to see this," Miller says, "because athletes are going to be doing things that people like me never thought could be possible."
Adds Johnson: "You'll still have some fans who will want to see the artistry of the past. But I think most will want to see the athletes performing skills that have never been seen before, taking the sport to the next level. It will be interesting to see who will be able to physically hold up under this system and who won't."
In future USA WEEKENDs
We visit with other present and past Olympians in synchronized swimming, wrestling, and track and field, including gold-medal decathlete Rafer Johnson and gold-medal super heavyweight wrestler Bruce Baumgartner.
"Cover and cover story photos by E.J. Camp for USA WEEKEND; Styling by Liz Jacobs; balance beam courtesy Temple University women's gymnastics"
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