Special report: 2008 Olympic Games

    By Song Ying     

    BEIJING, July 23 (Xinhua) -- Loaded with beauty and talent, reigning world champion Shawn Johnson is a highlight in the United States' star-studded women gymnastic team bound for the Beijing Olympics next month.

    Analysts said Johnson will bring home at least one Olympic gold.

    The 16-year-old girl, born in Iowa, tried gymnastics at the age of three when her parents found dance class was not suitable for the kid full of energy.

    Johnson moved to a new gym initiated by Chinese gymnastic coach Qiao Liang after two years of training in a local gymnastic club.

    American spectators' attention began to shift to Johnson when she placed third in the junior division of the 2005 U.S. Classic.

    In 2007, Johnson entered the senior division and won the all-around title in the Tyson American Cup.

    Her international reputation was built up as she represented the United States at the 2007 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Stuttgart, Germany.

    Along with her teammates, Johnson defeated powerful rivals, the defending champion China, and helped the United States to capture the women team gold medal at the championships, which was just the second world team title in the U.S. history and the first won at a World Championships held outside of the United States.

    With stable performance, Johnson also joined Kim Zmeskal, Shannon Miller and Chellsie Memmel as the only U.S. women to win a world all-around title in the 2007 tournament, and later added a gold medal on floor exercise. It was the first time for a U.S. gymnast to win both the team and all-around gold medals at the same World Championships.

    After the stunning victory, Johnson herself could not believe it at once.

    "I was looking in the mirror getting ready and saying, 'You're the world champion, you're the best gymnast in the world right now. 'It does not make sense so far," she said while recalling the memory.

    Johnson smoothly made the U.S. Olympic team last month by placing first in the trial in Pennsylvania.

    Although the United States is the only country to win a medal at every world championships and Olympics since 2001, it has to face tough challenges from China and Russia in the Beijing Olympics.

    "We know we'll have obstacles we have to pass. We have to choose the toughest team because it will not be an easy job," U.S. national team coordinator Martha Karolyi told media.

    Johnson will surely be a leading elite of the U.S. toughest girls and is poised to claim more world title in the coming Olympics.