Shawn Johnson Wins Nationals Leading Pack to Olympic Trials
Shawn Johnson captured her second consecutive National title this weekend at the 2008 Visa Championships. WOGA’s Nastia Liukin took 2nd AA and Chellsie Memmel got 3rd.
The Visa Championships serve as the USA Nationals where the National team is set. The 13 members of the Senior National Team plus 6 others (who were invited based on past performances) will be contending for spots on the Olympic team at the Trials event. These gymnasts include:
2008-09 U.S. Senior National Team
Jana Bieger, Coconut Creek, Fla./Bieger International Gymnastics
Mackenzie Caquatto, Naperville, Ill./Aerials
Olivia Courtney, Orlando, Fla./Orlando Metro
Ivana Hong, Blue Springs, Mo./GAGE
Alaina Johnson, Tyler, Texas/Texas East
Shawn Johnson, West Des Moines, Iowa/Chow’s Gymnastics
Mattie Larson, Los Angeles/All Olympia
Nastia Liukin, Parker, Texas/WOGA
Corrie Lothrop, Gaithersburg, Md./Hill’s
Chellsie Memmel, West Allis, Wis./M&M Gymnastics
Samantha Peszek, Indianapolis, Ind./DeVeau’s
Alicia Sacramone, Winchester, Mass./Brestyan’s
Randy Stageberg, Chesapeake, Va./Excalibur
Also invited to the U.S. Olympic Team Trials
Chelsea Davis, Lakeway, Texas/Texas Dreams
Darling Hill, Mt. Laurel, N.J./Will-Moor
Britney Ranzy, Gaithersburg, Md./Excalibur
Amber Trani, Richlandtown, Pa./Parkettes
Bridget Sloan, Pittsboro, Ind./Sharp’s
Shayla Worley, Orlando, Fla./Orlando Metro
Two more weekends! That’s two more weekends to go until we get to see 19 of the best gymnasts in the US vie for a spot on the Olympic team in Philadelphia. I bought my tickets for Trials six months ago and have been counting down the time ever since. My daughters and I will be spending the weekend and taking in all the events. I will be taking my camera and will keep you posted.
The womens gymnastics team always seem to be the darlings of the Olympic games and I am sure which ever 7 (6 plus an alternate) make it this year, they will capture hearts around the world.
Check out even more pictures of Shawn Johnson at her Flickr group.
4 Comments
August 4th, 2008 at 1:43 am
[...] US Women’s Olympic Team – starring Shawn Johnson (16), Nastia Liukin (18), Samantha Peszek (16), and Bridget Sloan (16) are expected to medal. [...]
August 7th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
[...] Shawn Johnson looked a little stressed as she warmed up on the floor – as did all the girls. As podium training went on, Shawn and the others seemed to loosen up a bit, cheering each other on as they went through their routines. [...]
July 23rd, 2009 at 11:24 am
[...] you are a gymnastics fan and are anywhere near Shawn Johnson’s hometown of Des Moines, Iowa this weekend, you have some serious gymnastics to take in. The USA [...]
March 22nd, 2011 at 1:14 pm
[...] Jordyn Wieber is looking more and more like USA Gymnastics’ “It Girl” much like Shawn Johnson and Carly Patterson have been in years past. Jordyn Wieber is not a new name in the gymnastics [...]