Shawn Johnson top athlete

American gymanst Shawn Johnson has been named the winner of the 79th Sullivan Award as last year's top US amateur athlete. Shawn Johnson took the balance beam gold at the Beijing Olympics and got three silver medals for her floor exercise, team, and all-around performances. Voting for the top athlete award was by the US Olympic Committe, union officials, and college sports information directors. On-line fan ballots counted for one-third of the final tally.

Shawn Johnson became only the third gymnast to claim the top athlete honor, joining Kurt Thomas in 1979 and Paul Hamm in 2004. Fellow gymnast Nastia Liukin, who took the gold in the all-around performances at Beijing, was one of the four other finalists. Shawn Johnson already endorses Coca-Cola, Adidas, GK/Elite, Ortega, and McDonald’s, and this top athlete honor may get her some more lucrative deals.



4'9" Shawn Johnson in Fitness Magazine (photo: Tom Rafalovich). Despite intense training and competitions, her pretty feet have not suffered from all the jumps and landings. "I have been remarkably injury-free my whole career," says the 90-pound Shawn.