Hey everyone-
Just wanted to give you a little insight myself since the media world sometimes has a “unique” way of telling stories. For my birthday this year, i had the extreme pleasure and joy of skiing in Colorado with my closest friends to celebrate my big 18th. While having the time of my life there, finishing up my last run of the day, I took a bad fall. I knew as soon as it happened that something had gone wrong, but kept my hopes up and fingers crossed. I managed to tough out the rest of the trip and still have a blast. When i got home, i went to my doctor just to verify that nothing was wrong – even though i knew something was – and was devastated by the results.
The doctor informed me that i had a slight tear in my acl and meniscus and needed knee surgery. For a girl who has never really had an injury before, this came at me like a brick wall. I wasn’t sure how to handle the news so i did what felt natural. I went straight from the doctor’s office to meet up with Coach Chow. With my eyes full of tears and body language reading defeat, Chow shocked me in his response to the news. He was so comforting, so positive – it was just like old times. He told me things happen for a reason. I am now faced with a challenge that i have never had to face before, at a time in my life that i needed it the most. He told me to look at it as a blessing. I have been stumbling this past year and a half, piled with work and busy with travel – struggling to figure out what it is i want to do with my life and if i want to continue in gymnastics. I could never really feel any clarity – to read what was in my heart – or simply have the time to sit down and listen. Well, now that i’m faced with a road of recovery, i have time. I have time to reflect, time to myself and time to figure out who i am.
The one thing that scared me the most when this happened was that possibly i could not return to gymnastics even if i wanted to. Up until now, i’ve always had that option, so i’ve always been comfortable. The thought that option might be gone killed me!
So hearing Chow say that the option will always be there was music to my ears. He did say it will be much more difficult – not just mentally, but physically as well – to come back to the sport after an injury. It is going to take time and a lot of work, but if i am willing to commit to it, it can be done. Something else he said that really meant a lot to me was that he could still see in my eyes that i had a heart for the sport. Knowing and seeing how devastated i was at the fact i might not be able to return to gymnastics showed him how much the sport really meant to me.
So, as of today, i am 4 days out of surgery, struggling with crutches, tripping over everything, and feeling really weird not being able to walk for the first time, but also feeling comfortable with where i stand. Again, i’m not committing to a comeback of any sort, but i have set up with Chow that gymnastics will definitely be a part of my recovery. It’s a great way to get back in shape and to start figuring things out, along with rehabbing my knee. Things aren’t going to be easy for the next 6 months, but i’m excited to see what comes of all this new time i have on my hands. I have no regrets about going skiing, because i was having the time of my life, and i have nothing but positive thoughts going into recovery. Life is crazy, unexpected and unpredictable. All i can hope is that, along with the love and help of my family, you will be there supporting me in whatever it is i do!
Love, Shawn
Shawn,I love you.You are my greatest role model.I learn gymnastics too but not up to those complicated moves yet.I can’t even do a handstand and yet I am considered one of the best gymnast in my class.Bet you can picture the standered of my class.T lurv gym but my mom is not excatly keen on sending me to gymnastics school as it is expensive.Suggestions anyone??Shawn??
Hey Shawn!
Lets just say you are like my favorite athlete. Having an acl and meniscus torn really stinks. I am 16 and just had my 2nd surgery for both. I play soccer for my Highschool and in 2009 i tore both then this year I tore both of them again. It has been really hard on me because I was hoping to go to collage for soccer and now I have to quit my favorite sport. I know God has a plan for me though. BI know you are like 5 or more months of recovery and I am hoping you are doing great! Just stay strong!! I know you can!!
-kenzie
Dear Shawn,
Ever since seeing you in the Olympics, you have become an inspiration to me. Like you, I’m on the more petite size for my age (4′8″ at 16 yrsold). I used to feel very self-concious, but you showed me that no matter the size, you can accomplish great things (like yourself!) Thank you so much!
& I hope you recover soon!
hi shawn the first time io heard bout you and saw you on tv i was amazed how awsome you were at gymnastics.You aspire me to do gymnastics and its gonna hurt all your fan if you stop doing gymnastics.I dont know one person that does know you or like you because you are awsome and everyone knows it!If im going level 5 in need my favorite athlete by my side.Next year im going to IGC ( international gymnastics camp) and hopeing to see you there.I also hope that you dont stop doing gymnastics…. I know about your knee and i feel so bad cause I almost broke my knee too. But if i were you i wouldent want to disapoint my fans. Your are like,well not like,you are the best gymnast ever!!!!!! You should do gymnastics for as long as you can then when your 50 or something like that you could be a couch so everyone can remember you i know this is starting to get log but all i want to say is dont quit gymnastics shawn your better than AWSOME!!! P.S i think your really pretty! hope you read this soon bye!!
Hey Shawn I love you and I felt so horrible about tearing your ACL and I know how you feel because I did too. I’ll never be good as you are but I know how terrible it feels to watch everyone else doing fun things and tricks and actually running to the ice cream truck when it comes
.
u r amazing can i have your email
Hi Shawn,
I live in Colorado and I know several things can happen while in the mountains. You are my idol and I was devastated when I heard you were out of training for a while. I love you so much! I am a level 8 gymnast and I am training harder than ever. All thanks to you.
Hi Shawn, Sorry about your knee! Last June, I was jumping to high bar, and did a fly-away, but landed on my back. It hurt. I started gymnastics when I was 3, and quit when I was 6 and started again when I was 10, so I’ve done it for 6 or seven years! You are my favorite athlete ever!
LOVE YA!
gymnast23
hi, you are the best, i love you and i would like to meet you
gymnastics is my life and ur awesome i want to be an olympic gymnast so bad your so amazing and it would mean giving up my gymnastics equpment to meet you or have you respond your awesome and im not a crazed fan im a calm fan
hi … i am from Serbia … I trained gymnastics 7 years
… And stopped … Now I’m going to help trenenru for some girls who do not know the basics of gymnastics … you were my idol in life and now you … I love you
hey i love gymnastics and ever since the 2008 olypics i couldnt stop watching. But i have a huge!!! QUESTION! on Youtube i searched ‘Shawn Johonson’ and i want to know why it have a video called remembering shawn Johnson. 1992- 2009. i really got scared!
Hey Shawn! I don’t know if you read these things, but I’ll post anyways
I felt horrible when I heard about you tearing your ACL. I actually found out about it when I was just coming out of the hospital, recovering from the same surgery on January 25th. I’m 15 and a level 10 gymnast and a week before my first meet I tore my ACL on a 2&1/2 punch front. Since you tore yours almost at the same exact time, Its almost been 6 months for both of us and you know what that means! 
It would be awesome to hear your stories about your road to recovery because I can definitely relate. You are an EXTREMELY talent gymnast and I’m hoping we can both make a come back. I don’t know about you, but having 6 months of no gymnastics just makes me want it more! I don’t know how this works but It would be awesome if we could talk about it. I’m pulling for you! – Shannon:)
hi my brother is just like that he tore his acl and then he got surgery then he tore it on christmas!!! now he has to get is done again and the doctor said he may never play foot ball AGAIN but he is dooing better….
Hey Shawn!! You are my role model!! I am in gymnastics and have been in it for only a year, and almost on Level 4 Competitive Team! But I still have a LOT to learn!! I want to be The Best, just like you. You are an awesome gymnast and I hope your knee will get better so I can watch on TV again. I love you, Shawn!
HI Shawn!!I use to be a gymnast and i guess you can still say I am! I have been doing gymnastics for a very long time! I am now going into highschool, but my highschool does not have a gymnastics team! I am going to try diving! Diving is also one of my favorite sports. It seems similar to gymnastics with all of the flips and twists! I love watching your video’s! You inspire me so much and your just an amazing person! You smile all the time and I wish I could be like you because you are always happy!
hi Shawn,
you are the most amasing persone I have ever seen.
I hope you recover as soon as possible!
I love you and I wanna become a great gymnast just like you!
xxxxxxxxxxx
Shawn Johnson,
One reason u have soooo many fans is because of your beaming smile!! it shows your love for the sport!! it makes people want to watch you. Its why i like you over nastia because when u where preforming at the olymphics. She had this serious look on her face and you were smiling and was fired up out there. The media is always lookin for the IN girl and u where it because of your talent and smile!! keep working hard and always remember to smile. i luv u
katie
i think your additude of all of this is amazing!! I hope you get better and can return and make a huge comeback with gymnastics!! You are incredible and my # 1 idol!! i have broken my foot and have not been able to dance!! For the first time in my life i have actually sat down to watch T.v!! keep believing in your self and working through it!! Things do happen for the better or for the worse. remember God has a plan for you maybe a better plan then u had for yourself!!
may your prays be lifted up!!
Katie
Hey Shawn – I just tore my ACL two weeks ago. I am an older gymnast. I am 41 years old and just got back into the sport this past year. I was having the time of my life and just learned my layout full twist. It’s been a dream of mine to be able to do a full and I always thought at my age I would never be able to do it. I landed it three times before injuring my knee. I will have surgery in about a month before I can begin my road to recovery. I will be pulling for you.
Ivy
soo sorry about your knee! i also love gymnastics and parkour and would hate to injury myself knowing that i might not be able to do it again. i don’t think how id live with myself. but i hope u get better quick and r able to come back! =)
Hey shawn Me and my you hbff autumn think you are soooooooo talented and that you have a lot in store for life ahead
hi shawn my name is megan i am tranning 8 and i amtsooooo sorry .. i had my werst ingry just thurday landing wrong in a balkwalkover flip flop on beam and my hand has been swollen scence. i hope you are feeling well and are doing well in recovery. ingurys suck in the sport of gymnastics and sometimes the turn out to be the end of the road.
sorry this happened to you and i totally agree with your coach. hope you get better.
So sorry to hear you got injured… I did the same thing (ACL + meniscus tear) a few years ago and it meant the end of gymnastics forever for me. I hope that you make a quick recovery, and know that you’re not the only gymnast that’s torn her ACL.
hey shawn i had to do a power point and i chose you bcuz you’ve made so many accomplishment in your life i just wish i could be like you,! best wishes hailee n. mefford,<33
i am almost out of 4th grade. i posted on the other blogs. i have to right a speech about our number one hero and you are mine!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I hope to see you at Flip Fest!
im almost out of 4th grade and we have to write a speech in fith grade on a hero and i already know who my hero is gues…….. YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i won writting the speech this year in fourth grade on my favorite hobby and my favorite hobby was gymnastick i love you are my favorite out of the whole intioe world of all even as i grow older and there are diffrent athletes you are alwlways going to be my total favorite
I completely tore my ACL, partially tore my meniscus, and sprained my MCL doing a mini-big air jump in Flagstaff, AZ (SnowBowl). Skiing/Snowboarding are extreme sports and it sucks that females are so much more prone to this injury. Only a partial ACL tear though? I hear that hurts even worse than complete tear because some of the nerves are still there.
I completely tore my ACL, tore my miniscus, and sprained my MCL snowboarding in Flagstaff, AZ. I was doing a mini-big air; didn’t see it coming. I understand why skiing/snowboarding are extreme sports! Glad to hear you only had a partial tear. Not too shabby!
You can do it Shawn. You have the passion for the sport and you have a natural talent and great coaching. Do it for yourself though, not for anyone else and don’t let the expectations of others dictate your future. Follow your heart and see where it leads. You’ve accomplished so much at such a young age and you have nothing to prove to anyone. Good luck with your recovery and your return to training. Im so looking forward to following your comeback attempt.
Dympie from Ireland.
AWWW!!! I HOPE UR KNEE FEELS BETTER!! I AM ALSO A TUMBLER! I CAN ONLY DO A FULL THOUGH:(!! I HAVE BROKEN 2 BONES FROM TUMBLING!! I KNOW IT’S TOUGH!! I AM 12!! LOVE FROM ATHENS, TEXAS!!
LOVE, AVERY WEINSTEIN!!
Shawn, you the best gymnast I have EVER seen compete. I watched you on Dancing with the Stars and thought the same thing. But I really hope that you are able to compete again. It would be a shame to see all the talent not come out again. You are one of those gymnasts who everyone loves to watch because you make the judges and the audience love you! Please come back to gymnastics!
Aww! I hope your knee gets better.
You are my hero, I <3 you because you never give up, you always try to find a positive side to everything. 
-Anna, your biggest fan
I am so sorry to hear about your knee!!! I really hope recovery goes well. We are all praying for you. I am your biggest fan!!! My mom tore her ACL while skiing too. You have been my biggest inspiration and you are my hero. I have no doubt that you can do anything you set your mind to, and I hope you keep spreading your inspiration and keep smiling because it truly is infectious. It would be a dream come true if you could email me at gymnastbailey@gmail.com
Much love from Denver Colorado!!!!
Oh my gosh I am so happy. I am a gymnast and I plan to be a gold medalist in the 2016 olympics. I am 9 years old right now, and in level 5. I got first on vault for the first time with a score of 9.000, PHEW, just made it!!!!!!! Anyways, Shawn, their is nobody like you and just a little f.y.i. Nastia Liukin is not better than you one single bit. You are awesome!!!! P.S. Hope you have a good injury recovery.
oh noo! i hope that you are ok:)
OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It is so amazing that you are actually going to read this! You are my favorite athlete ever! You are so amazing. I want to be just like you! luv ya! PEACE!