Johnson, Chow named Citizens of the Year in West Des Moines (The Altoona Herald-Mitchellville Index) The West Des Moines Chamber has announced that gymnast Shawn Johnson and her coach, Liang Chow, will share the honors as the co-recipients of the 2007 West Des Moines Citizens of the Year Award. Publish Date: Thu, 06 Dec 2007 10:19:52 GMT Read more...

Congratulations Shawn and Liang! [quote]As part of their quest for a gold medal at the upcoming summer's Olympic Games in Beijing, Shawn and her coach have racked up impressive resumes of achievements unequaled in gymnastic history. Shawn is a 10th-grade student at Valley High School and an "A" honor roll student. She began gymnastics at age 3. Over her career she has earned awards ranging from AAU's State of Iowa Athlete of the Year in 2006, to national and world champion in 2007. She will be a member of the U.S. Olympic team heading to Beijing, China, in 2008. In addition to her career in gymnastics, Shawn contributes to charitable organizations in support of women's cancer initiatives and juvenile diabetes research, among others. [/quote] The 2008 USA Olympic team isn't chosen yet, but Shawn is at the top of the list of qualifiers. Sometimes it can get funny when non gymnasts/gymnastics coaches write an article on gymnastics news. Chow: [quote]Chow, Shawn's long-time coach, is owner and operator of Chow's Gymnastic Studio in West Des Moines. He is the 1989 world champion in gymnastics and the first gymnast in the world to perform the double front release with pike position on the parallel bars. He, too, has many world achievements as both a gymnast representing China - and winning more than 30 international gold medals - as well as a gymnastics coach. Chow has served as head coach for the 2007 Pan American Games in Brazil and the 2007 World Championships in Stuttgart, Germany. He was named the 2007 U.S. Senior Elite Coach of the Year. He also has served as University of Iowa's men's and women's gymnastic coach for seven years, resulting in five gymnasts making the USA national team.[/quote] [quote]The duo will be honored as West Des Moines Citizen of the Year at the West Des Moines Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner on Jan. 24 at the Des Moines Golf and Country Club.[/quote] Related: "Chow's gymnastics awarded key to city" http://www.gymchat.com/messageboards/viewtopic.php?t=9828 "ABC names Johnson its 'Person of the Week'" http://www.gymchat.com/messageboards/viewtopic.php?t=1448