Shawn Johnson Is New Dancing Champ

Olympic Medalist Adds Mirrorball From "Dancing With The Stars" To Collection Of Trophies

(AP)  Shawn Johnson is adding a mirrorball trophy to her collection of Olympic medals.

The 17-year-old gymnast was named "Dancing With the Stars" champion Tuesday during the season finale of the hit ABC show.

The winning couple held the mirrorball trophy aloft as the rest of the contestants rushed out to greet them, hoisting them into the air as sparkling confetti flew.

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Timeline: "Dancing With The Stars"

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"This has been the best experience ever," Johnson said after her victory. "I've grown so much."

Johnson was tied with fellow finalist Gilles Marini after Melissa Rycroft was dismissed earlier in Tuesday's show.

All three finalists performed one last dance, each earning a perfect score of 30 from the judges. Viewer votes are combined with judges' scores to determine the "Dancing" champ.

Show host Tom Bergeron said "less than 1 percent" separated the two finalists.

"This has been, without a doubt the best season ever," said head judge Len Goodman. "We've got the three best dancers here in the final."

"I'm so happy for Shawn and Mark. They worked so hard," Marini said, referring also to Mark Ballas, Johnson's professional dance partner.

Johnson had a scare in March when a 34-year-old man allegedly tried to break onto the "Dancing With the Stars" set, apparently to meet her. Police say Robert O'Ryan, who remains in custody on a stalking charge, jumped a fence at the studio lot after driving from Florida in a car loaded with guns, duct tape and love letters to Johnson. Filings by her parents said the incident caused her to fear for her safety.

But Johnson shook off the incident and used her athleticism to better effect with each passing week, looking less like a rigid, underaged gymnast and more like a powerful yet graceful dancer as she gained confidence.

On Tuesday, former contestant Jeffrey Ross came back for a little comic relief, roasting the three finalists, calling them, "the underage, the unwed and the unpronounceable."

Tuesday's season finale also featured a performance by Lady Gaga and the finale of the new pro-dancer competition. Anna Damidova competed with three other professional dancers for a spot on next season's "Dancing With the Stars."

Previously dismissed celebrities - including Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, rodeo champ Ty Murray, funnyman Steve-O, singer Belinda Carlisle, rapper Lil Kim, former football star Lawrence Taylor, country singer Chuck Wicks, reality star Holly Madison, and actors David Alan Grier and Denise Richards - returned for a last dance.

While Johnson was paid increasingly by the episode, she got nothing extra for taking the mirroball trophy, according to court documents filed in Los Angeles.

Because she's under 18, Johnson had to have a judge approve a minor's contract to participate in "Dancing." That agreement spelled out that Johnson receives $125,000 for being a contestant, and made significantly more per week the longer she lasted: For weeks three and four, Johnson received $10,000 per week; $20,000 per week for weeks five, six and seven; $30,000 for weeks eight and nine; and for the final two weeks, she received $50,000 a week - but no winning bonus.

[MissUT]

I don't watch the show, but when I saw her in news footage she looked kind of chubby to me. Isn't she a gymnast? Or is it the TV that made her look chubby?
Posted by marybethinct at 9:30 AM : May 20, 2009

Obviously, your ventures through "news footage" didn't take you to the Olympics in Beijing, or you would know that Shawn is a Gold Metal Olympian. And yes, she has the body of a gymnast...that actually made it harder for her during DWTS. She was having to use muscles that she was trained NOT to use. She had absolutely NO previous dancing experience, unlike Gilles and Melissa. BTW, she only weighs 90 lbs. Since you don't watch the show, I find your opinion void and without merit. Shawn is a very nice young lady and deserving of all that she has worked for...I hope to see her back in the Olympics in 2012 representing the USA.

[erasmus111]

Now we know the show is "rigged".....

Posted by myramo at 10:35 AM : May 20, 2009

The show isn't "rigged". It's not the show's fault, or the judges fault that the PEOPLE are stupid. The people that are voting are the ones that are brain dead. You are supposed to be voting on who is the best dancer, not on who you just "like" better. In other words, you don't vote for Shawn just because you are into "gymnastics" or "sports". You don't vote for Marie Osmond just because you liked "Donnie and Marie" from way back when. Know what I mean?

What they should be doing is stopping the public from voting. If you can't vote for the best dancer then they shouldn't be voting.

[myramo]

So, what else is "New" ?.......
Now we know the show is "rigged".....and the endless dialogue is orchestrated !!!
Maybe they should choose a new name......"Gymnastics with the Stars" !!!
Gilles was way-better, and Melissa, too............!!!

[erasmus111]

I don't watch the show, but when I saw her in news footage she looked kind of chubby to me. Isn't she a gymnast? Or is it the TV that made her look chubby?

Posted by marybethinct at 9:30 AM : May 20, 2009

The camera does add 10 lbs., so she is thinner than she looks. I think she is just big boned. She's what you would call....thick? I mean she's pretty active being a gymnast, so she gets plenty of exercise. Not only that, when any of the celebrities have danced, if they were over weight, they lost weight. She didn't look like she lost any.

[erasmus111]

If people can't vote on who the BEST dancer is, then there is hardly any point to the show. It isn't supposed to be a popularity contest.

[erasmus111]

very disappointed - although all 3 finalists were great - i truly thought hunk Gilles would get it - he deserved it more than Shannon.

Posted by luvcanines at 5:12 AM : May 20, 2009

That would be Shawn, not Shannon. And I agree.

There is no way that Shawn should have won. The problem is that she would have more "fans" than Gilles. It really isn't fair. People shouldn't be voting for someone just because they are already a fan of that person. They should be voting on who is the best dancer. Shawn was good, but she wasn't the best dancer.

[czechtraveler]

Gilles is the better dancer.....Shawna only won because of the "cutsey" factor........I was very dissapointed

[fleura-2009]

I am extremely disappointed!!! The season belonged to Gilles!

No offense to Shawn but the two are at totally different calibers. This was an unjustice to Gilles Marini and many DWTS Fans. He has amazed us so much all season and fell so WRONG, WRONG ABC to disappoint your audience once again.

Just another c r a p p y ABC repeat of the Bachelor!!! He should have picked Molly from start, but the show had so orchastred to where Melissa had to be heartbroken in front of the entire world.

I question my loyalty to ABC from this point forward!

Very Disappointed Loyalist.

[mlread1]

Shawn and Mark started off as less than perfect dancers. Gilles had one 24 and from then on, his lowest score was a 27. Melissa was pretty much in the same category. The show is not about great dancers competing against non-dancers; it's about taking someone who cannot dance and learning to dance -- improving week-to-week. Which is exactly what Shawn did -- if you watch her first dance and her last -- it's unbelievable how Mark has been able to create a wonderful dancer out of Shawn. If you want to watch professional dancers dance, then there needs to be a show just for them. This is about taking someone out of their element -- which Shawn did and did very well. I'm very proud of her!!!!!

[luvcanines]

'cuse me - Shawn!!

[luvcanines]

very disappointed - although all 3 finalists were great - i truly thought hunk Gilles would get it - he deserved it more than Shannon.

[E Elder]

Gilles Marini and Cheryl Burke had better performances. The judges made that clear with their comments. Although the freestyle competition with Shawn and Mark was amazing, It was marred with many small errors.

Shawn and Mark lacked the style and Grace of Giles and Cheryl. I suspect Shawn's public following in gymnastics had a lot to do with her win.