Summer Olympics: Gymnastics, Basketball and
                                 Running, oh my!

By: Jennifer Heath

Now that it is officially summer many students are hitting the beach or
looking for fun relaxing ways to spend their time off.  The summer is
really heating up for young female athletes who are traveling half-way
around the world to Beijing, China to compete in the 2008 Summer
Olympics.  Here’s a spotlight on three women athletes who will be fighting
hard to bring back the gold!

Lauryn Williams





















Official website: http://www.laurynwilliams.net


Shawn Johnson





















Official website: http://www.shawnjohnson.net/default.aspx


Candace Parker





















Official website: www.candanceparker.com
Born
 September 11, 1983 (25 years old)
Sport
 100 mm
Hometown
 Rochester, PA and Detroit, MI
Education
 Lauryn attended Miami University and
graduated in 2004 with a degree in finance
Awesome achievement
 In 2004, Lauryn was the 2004 100mm
NCAA champion
Interesting fact
 She started running at age 9, but didn't find
her niche until college
How does she give back?
 Lauryn spends time providing community
outreach services as part of the USATF's
"Be a Champion" program.
Born
 January 19, 1992 (16 yers old)
Sport
 Gymnastics
Hometown
 West Des Moines, Iowa
Education
 Shawn is a sophomore at Valley High
School in West Des Moines, Iowa.
Awesome achievement
 Shawn is one of three gymnasts in the
world to have completed a 2 1/2 twisting
layout yurchenko (a complex gymnastics
move performed on the vault).
Interesting fact
 Who does Shawn look up to? Kim Zmeskal
and Shannon Miller.
How does she give back?
 Shawn participated in a charity event
benefiting breast cancer called Frosted Pink.
Born
 April 19, 1986 (age 22)
Sport
 Basketball
Hometown
 Naperville, IL
Education
 Candace graduated from the University of
Tennesse this past May, 2008
Awesome achievement
 Candace was selected #1 Overall in the 2008
WNBA Draft by the Los Angeles Sparks.
Interesting fact
 Basketball runs in the family.  Her brother
Anthony Parker plays for the Toronto
Raptors.
How does she give back?
 She is known for always reaching out to her
fans.  Never hesitating to give an interview
or sign an autograph, she takes her role
model status seriously.