Shawn Johnson of Chow’s Gymnastics has been shining in the spotlight ever since last year’s Visa Championships where her all-around score in the junior competition would have placed her in first in the senior competition had she been age-eligible. Now, Johnson, who recently made the decision to turn pro, has added another accolade to her name as she is the 2007 Pan American Games all-around champion. Will she next be crowned the U.S. all-around champion at the 2007 Visa Championships? Only time will tell. Until then, here’s the latest from the star…

Inside: What are some ways you keep gymnastics fun?

Johnson: Every once in a while we take a few trips and vacations. My coaches keep things light-hearted in gym. When we are on our down season, Chow might make it a little more fun and do some games and a lot of stuff to incorporate the team. One time in the summer, it was our down time in season and after practice it was hot out so we did slip-in-slide outside, but I mean we still did conditioning and stuff in the water.

Inside: You are definitely a crowd-favorite and you receive a lot of media attention. How do you handle the hype?

Johnson: My parents and coaches always try to keep me grounded. With the media, they aren’t too hesitant. It depends on the timing. They are very concerned with my well being and how I’m performing. If they ever thought the media would be an issue, they would help out, but so far the media has all been exciting and has made me want to be even better. I love the attention, and I think it helps my performance. It encourages me to want to do better.

Inside: Who is your favorite gymnast of all time?

Johnson: My favorite is Kim Zmeskal.

Inside: And you are obviously aware of the numerous comparisons made between you and Kim…

Johnson: Yeah, but even before the comparison, she was always my favorite. Just from watching videos and stuff, I liked her style of gymnastics. I got to meet her not too long ago, and it was really fun. She’s so nice.

Inside: What advice did Kim give you?

Johnson: She said to stay with it and to have fun. She told me to make sure I never lose my interest in the sport.

Inside: Who is your closest friend on the national team?

Johnson: My closest friend is probably Ivana Hong. I went on my first international trip with her, and we’ve been good friends ever since.