Liang Chow, coach for world champion gymnast Shawn Johnson, put out a call for immediate help Thursday night to save his gym from the overflowing Raccoon River in West Des Moines. More...

Flood in Iowa, hitting close to Chow's gym [QUOTE] "We need plastic, duct tape, sandbags and manpower," Chow pleaded. "The building in front of us is getting water in the parking lot and it is threatening our gym." Chow's Dance and Gymnastics Institute is at 2210 Park Drive, in an industrial park south of Grand Avenue and a short distance from Raccoon River Park. The Des Moines metro area, as is the case with much of Iowa, has been hammered by recent flooding that threatens to surpass the impact of the well-documented 1993 floods in the state. [/QUOTE] Shawn Johnson getting ready for Olympic trials: [QUOTE] If the gym floods and becomes unusable, it would impact Chow's gymnasts of all ages, but especially Johnson, who recently defended her U.S. national title and will compete next week in Philadelphia in the U.S. Olympic Trials. Any disruption to her rigorous training schedule could be a big challenge as she trains for the Beijing Olympics in August. "Any change would be a whole new environment," Chow said. "I hope we can somehow keep her in her home gym." [/QUOTE] Good to practice in home gym.

Shawn Johnson and the other competitive team members of Chow's gymnastics practiced at the University Friday and Saturday: [quote] Chow made arrangements with Iowa State University for Johnson and the competitive gymnastics team she practices with to train at that facility today and Saturday. About 100 people showed up Thursday night to move equipment to a higher floor and to sandbag around Chow’s, including city councilmen and West Des Moines government personnel. “I think it would have been a lot worse if we weren’t sandbagging,” West Des Moines city councilman Jim Sandager said. “Shawn is a community asset and we wanted to do what we can to protect her training schedule,” [/quote] [quote]“I’m not complaining,” Chow said. “I have a very touched heart to see so many people helping me.”[/quote] "Chow's Gymnastics knee-deep in water" http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080613/NEWS/80613033