Shawn Johnson Transitioning Into Her New Life With Dancing With The Stars (Interview)

Shawn Johnson tells iVillage that as soon as she announced her retirement from gymnastics, the producers of Dancing With The Stars called her to do the new All Star season. She didn’t immediately jump on the idea. Below is more…

“It was a really hard decision for me to make, I wanted to say yes right away but there was so much going on, I didn’t know if it would be a right fit, if I was mentally ready for it and with everything going on,” she admitted.

In the end, however, Johnson decided that going after the DWTS mirror-ball trophy a second time might be just what the doctor ordered. “I thought it would be a fun way to transition into a new phase in my life and try to get away from all this [gymnastics] for a little bit,” she said.

Plus, it’ll give her a shot at that comeback she was striving for. “I didn’t really get to finish out the competition and the comeback of [my gymnastics] career, but maybe I could do it on DWTS,” she said. “I don’t know. It’ll just be a good breath of fresh air for me to have some fun.”

Johnson isn’t without her share of nerves, however — admitting that she finds going up against past DWTS standouts, like Olympic speed skating champion Apolo Anton Ohno and former NFL player Emmitt Smith, quite daunting.

“It’s going to be hard, and there are so many good dancers,” she mused. “I’m so excited, I’m terrified, it’s a whole new world.”

I’m looking forward to watching Shawn again, are you? I just wish I could figure out who she’s dancing with? 😯 You can read more on Shawn at iVillage.