Johnson was in Orange Wednesday to help inspire kids to achieve their dreams.
ORANGE -- When Shawn Johnson walked into the Athletic Arts Academy Wednesday afternoon, she brought a lot with her.
The Olympic gymnast who won a gold medal in 2008 has become a spokeswoman for the sport, and an icon of pop culture (she was even a two-time competitor and one-time champion on 'Dancing with the Stars'). She's even heading back to the Olympics this summer to commentate on the games.
But, before that trip, the gymnast-turned-activist met with a group of about 30 young New Jersey gymnasts in Orange Wednesday to spread her message of hard work, dedication, and happiness.
"The message that I try to get across to all kids is that they need to have a passion for something. If you love what you do, it makes all the hard work easier," Johnson, 24, said Wednesday before talking with the gymnasts.
"When I see the kids and see the sparkles in their eyes, the excitement...it's pretty cool."
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Johnson was in the area to help promote a string of gymnastics events being held at the Prudential Center March 4 and 5 - the AT&T American Cup, Nastia Liukin Cup, and Elite Team Cup. The best part of the promotional tour, she said, is the opportunity to meet groups of kids at area gyms, centers, and even children's hospitals.
"This was just a pinnacle experience for the girls," Iya Karade, the Academy's owner, said after the Olympian's visit.
"She's an Olympian, but she's also a normal person, and that's how she talked to the girls about being motivated, about having a dream, and even about how to deal with being afraid of the balance beam," Karade said. "It was wonderful."
After her tour wraps, Johnson is moving on to more big things. After accepting a proposal in the middle of Wrigley Field from her NFL fiance Andrew East, the Iowa native is putting the finishing touches on her wedding, which is planned for next month.
This summer, she's heading to Rio to commentate at the 2016 summer Olympics.
Jessica Mazzola may be reached at jmazzola@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessMazzola. Find NJ.com on Facebook.