Shawn Johnson tweeted late last night that she may not compete after all at July's CoverGirl Classic, despite coach Liang Chow saying in an interview that she would likely do two events at the meet.
"Everyone! Covergirl Classic is not a definite! My goal is VISAs... Ultimate goal isn't until next year...Calm down. Slow and steady right ;)
The Olympic beam champion has not competed since the 2008 Olympic Games, but her presumed return has gmnastics fans at the edge of their seats three weeks before the CoverGirl Classic. Johnson, 19, has been working diligently on her comeback for the past 15 months after undergoing surgery to repair a partly torn ACL, an injury she sustained skiing early last year.
If she competes in July, Johnson is likely to do so only on bars and beam in order to protect her knee. On the internet, she has occasionally posted videos of herself in training, tumbling full-twisting double layouts and indicating that she may be working a layout full twist on beam.
The CoverGirl Classic, a dress rehersal for August's U.S. National Championships (sponsored by Visa, meaning it is often called the Visa Championships) brought good luck for Johnson's Olympic teammate Alicia Sacramone, who returned to competition after a two-year hiatus and won vault and balance beam.
Sacramone used the meet as a springboard to the U.S. Championships, where she helped solidify her place on the World team. She won vault at the 2010 Worlds less than three months later.
(via Universal Sports)
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