Shawn Johnson On Watching Team USA Win Gymnastics Gold: 'It Was A Fairytale'
"I was relieved that we finally got the gold. And yet, I was relieved that I wasn't down there killing myself," Shawn Johnson said.
The former Olympian athlete and medal winner described his reaction to watching the women's gymnastics team perform in the finals on in a blog for Today.com, where she reports as a special events correspondent for the London Olympics.
In her blog, posted on Aug. 1, she described her experience of watching history being made by Team USA, winning the first gymnastics team Olympic gold medal for the U.S. since 1996.
A former competitor herself, who unfortunately did not qualify for this year's Olympic Games, said that she could tell from the start that Team USA would nail the top honor.
"I didn't want to assume that they had the gold - but I knew they did. I had chills and goosebumps...The moment they walked into the arena I thought, 'I'd love to be down there,'" Johnson wrote. "There's no better feeling than being part of a team. But I couldn't have been happier to watch them and support them and see their joy."
Once the scores came up on the Jumbotro, Johnson said the scene "was a fairytale." The team, nicknamed the "Fab Five," starting crying as spectators got on their feet, waving flags and chanting "USA."
Johnson announced in June that she would retire as a gymnast athlete. Not being down with Team USA and helping them win the gold was difficult for Johnson but the Olympic medal-winner said she does not regret her decision to retire.
"The silver lining of being retired is not going to bed completely drained, and taking an hour to get my muscles warmed up so it doesn't hurt to walk. I won't miss the constant stress, fatigue, migraines, and living on ibuprofen."
Next on Johnson's agenda is the newest season of "Dancing with the Stars," where the former mirror ball-trophy winner will return and try to reclaim her title.
