Schools
West Des Moines' Shawn Johnson Featured on Girls' High School Athletic Union Poster
The poster, co-sponsored by Character Counts and the Iowa Games, is the first for the girls' athletic union. Since 1995, the boys' athletic association has featured famous Iowa athletes on its sportsmanship posters.
Shawn Johnson already is an inspiration to legions of young gymnasts who watched her medal-winning performances at the 2008 Beijing Olympics then ah’d a little more when she won a mirror ball trophy on ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars” and came close to winning another in the 2012 All-Stars season.
Now, she’s providing inspiration to high school athletes as the first-ever pinup athlete for the Iowa Girls’ High School Athletic Union.
The Des Moines Register reported that poster featuring Johnson in mid-leap before a large American flag will be distributed to Iowa high schools. Character Counts and the Iowa Games are co-sponsors.
Athletes with Iowa ties such as Kurt Warner and Fred Hoiberg have been featured on boys’ Iowa High School Athletic Association school sportsmanship posters since 1995, the Register reported, but this is the first such poster for the girls’ union.
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