Waters swirling cut into twirling

Jeff Gross, Getty Images Shawn Johnson of the U.S. Women's Gymnastics Team addresses the media during a press conference ahead of the Beijing 2008 Olympics at the Main Press Center on August 7, 2008 in Beijing, China. By JIM SOUHAN, Star Tribune BEIJING – Shawn Johnson is about the size of a whip of licorice, only more flexible. America’s Next Sweetheart is 4 feet 9 and 90 pounds of ponytail, molar and sinew and at age 16 has already become our country’s best gymnast. So why did our most promising munchkin with muscles spend most of the summer thinking about water more often than Michael Phelps? Growing up in West Des Moines, Iowa, should offer a few perks. Like sweet corn, and immunity from floods of biblical proportion. “Oooh,” she said Thursday, three days before her competition begins. “It was a mess.” At age 6, Johnson... [read full story]