The Olympic Games bring together nations all over the world to establish peace and unity through sports. It is an international platform for promoting sportsmanship, and through time we have wondered at the greatness of participating Olympians. They are the cream of the crop, gazed upon with the highest respect and honor, for the sense of national pride they bring us, and for the sacrifices they go through in representing their respective countries.
The Olympics are held every four years, but the names of its competitors are forever etched in our memory. From Carl Lewis, George Foreman, and Usain Bolt, each of them has inspired us to recognize greatness within ourselves. We identify with them through our positive traits, and the hope is that we are able to cultivate more on it. It’s a lifelong challenge that we’d like to follow through on, and through this article let us find out how the Olympians themselves have fared through the years beyond the playing fields and stadiums; a compilation of what was then and now. Read more.
Shawn Johnson
Little did Shawn Johnson’s parents didn’t know that enrolling her in gymnastics at the age of three would lead their daughter to international competitions. Like most parents, they just wanted their daughter to learn interesting skills while having fun, and it could have been in any sport. With her trainer’s encouragement and patience, Johnson developed her skills to reach a competitive level.
In 2008, she competed in the Summer Olympics in Beijing. She won the gold medal for the Balance Beam category and earned 3 silvers for the women’s gymnastics team. She hurt her knee while skiing in 2010, prompting her to retire from the sport.
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