Junior Johnson Shines in Hawaii (18th April, 2006)

In the junior event at the Pacific Alliance Championships, Shawn Johnson (USA) and Bianca Flohr (USA) finished 1-2 in the all-around, leading the US junior women to the team title over second place Canada.

American’s Tessa Pama (whom Backflip featured in issue 2 as the rising star of the gymnastics world!) and Rebecca Bross earned the third and fourth highest all-around scores but because only two athletes per country are eligible for all-around awards, China’s Xio Sha received the bronze medal.

Flohr earned the highest score on uneven bars, 15.350, while Johnson was best on vault, where her double twisting Yurchenko scored 15.000 points. On floor, she secured her all-around title with 15.350.

I knew that if I wanted a chance to win that I had to go out and do a great floor routine,’ Johnson said. ‘This was such a big accomplishment because I wanted to prove myself after my last meet in Montreal and I think I did that.’