FitSugar

Favorite Olympian: Shawn Johnson

FitSugar — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 08:00:00 PST

Michael Phelps is truly a superlative athlete. He broke all kinds of records in Beijing and was voted Sportsman of the Year by Sports Illustrated. While you all voted him the fan-favorite Olympian, I think he has won awards aplenty. That is why when it comes to Olympians, 16-year-old Shawn Johnson with her tireless smile is the winner of the FitSugar Favorite Olympian.

Shawn won the gold medal for balance beam, the sliver medal in the all-around competition, silver in floor exercise, and helped the US win the team silver. Unlike many elite gymnasts, Shawn only trained about 20 to 25 hours a week instead of 40, so she could attend her public high school where she is on the honor roll. Even though she is not yet old enough to vote, this civic-minded Olympian made an appearance at the Democratic National Convention. Her athletic style kept us entertained throughout the Olympics, and this girl looks so healthy.

She might not be the new face of Subway or have a video game in the works, but Shawn is my favorite Olympian of 2008. I am anxious to see if she will compete in 2012 - do you think she will?

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Olympic Pros Shawn Johnson, Natalie Coughlin, and Mia Hamm Share Their Healthy Snack Ideas

Leta Shy — Mon, 07 May 2012 14:25:59 PDT

Being an Olympic veteran means three things: you're a world-class athlete, you're used to hectic schedules, and you know how to travel smart. So who better to ask about how to stay healthy while being on the go than a few famous Olympic athletes? Whether you're snacking at home or need something to grab and go, here are recommendations from veteran Olympians Natalie Coughlin, Mia Hamm, and Shawn Johnson.

When traveling: It's all about "making sure you plan ahead and bring stuff with you, whether it's trail mix or an [energy] bar," soccer star Mia tells us. Gymnast Shawn recommends KIND bars because they are all natural and come in "fun flavors such as almond and coconut and apple cinnamon and pecan. They're surprisingly good," she tells ESPNw. Swimmer Natalie loves making her own energy bars - get her dried plum energy bar recipe here.

At home or work: Natalie is more than just a decorated Olympic swimmer; she's also an avid home cook and gardener. Natalie shared with YumSugar one of her favorite healthy snacks for Spring: "I love just having a really good baguette with good, high-quality butter (just a tiny bit of butter) and fresh sliced radishes with salt on top," she recommends. Shawn is all about snacking on veggies as well: she pairs peppers with hummus for a crunchy, filling snack.

Read on for more snack ideas from these famous Olympians!

What's Yummy This Week

Susannah Chen — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 04:05:41 PDT

If you like sweet potato fries, you'll love sweet potato hash browns.
Olympian Natalie Coughlin tells us why she loves food just as much as we do.
Watch Mario Batali show off his kitchen, his "second favorite room" in the house.
Chefs Club: the next frontier in dining.
A few kitchenwares we wish we'd registered for - and a few more we wish we hadn't!
Our top five Spring fruits and what to make with them.
Secrets to throwing a smashing cocktail party at home.
Twenty-two wild and wacky wedding cakes on Flickr.