View source for Kathy Johnson

{{short description|American Olympic gymnast}}
{{other people}}
{{Infobox gymnast
| name          = Kathy Johnson
| image         = 
| caption       = 
| full_name     = Katherine Johnson Clarke
| altname       = Katherine Ann "Kathy" Johnson (-Clarke)
| birth_date    = {{birth-date and age|September 13, 1959}}
| birth_place   = [[Oak Ridge, Tennessee]], U.S.
| spouse        = [[Brian Patrick Clarke]]
| show-medals   = yes
| medaltemplates = 
{{MedalSport | Women's [[artistic gymnastics]] }}
{{MedalCountry | {{USA}} }}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Artistic gymnastics at the Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]}}
{{MedalSilver | [[1984 Summer Olympics|1984 Los Angeles]] | [[Gymnastics at the 1984 Summer Olympics – Women's artistic team all-around|Team all-around]] }}
{{MedalBronze | [[1984 Summer Olympics|1984 Los Angeles]] | [[Gymnastics at the 1984 Summer Olympics – Women's balance beam|Balance beam]] }}
{{MedalCompetition|[[World Artistic Gymnastics Championships|World Championships]]}}
{{MedalBronze | [[1978 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships|1978 Strasbourg]] | Floor exercise }}
}}

'''Katherine "Kathy" Johnson Clarke'''<ref name=ig/><ref name="sports-reference_johnson"/> (born '''Katherine Ann Johnson'''; September 13, 1959<ref name="SR">{{cite Sports-Reference|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/jo/kathy-johnson-1.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418015530/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/jo/kathy-johnson-1.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 18, 2020|title=Kathy Johnson profile|accessdate=November 13, 2015}}</ref>) is an American [[sports commentator]] and former [[artistic gymnastics|artistic gymnast]]. Johnson was one of the first American gymnasts to win a major international medal, known for her longevity and tenacity in the sport.

== Early life ==
On September 13, 1959, Johnson was born in [[Oak Ridge, Tennessee]].<ref name="sports-reference_johnson">{{cite web |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/jo/kathy-johnson-1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418015530/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/jo/kathy-johnson-1.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 18, 2020 |title=Kathy Johnson profile|accessdate=February 25, 2020}}</ref>

== Career ==
At a young age, she lived in [[Indialantic, Florida]].<ref>Lader, Martin. [https://www.upi.com/Archives/1984/08/06/The-Graceful-Old-Lady-of-American-gymnastics-said-goodbye/3373460612800/ "The 'Graceful Old Lady' of American gymnastics said goodbye..."], ''[[United Press International]]'' website, August 6, 1984. Retrieved December 3, 2019.</ref> She began gymnastics at the age of twelve; a relatively late start for an elite gymnast. Within four years, however, she had progressed to competition at the elite level, placing 42nd at the 1975 AAU National Championships. In 1976, she finished in 23rd place at the US National Championships and twelfth at the Olympic Trials.<ref name=choice>[[Gérard Eskénazi|Gerard Eskenazi]],[http://www.gymn-forum.net/Articles/NYT-Johnson78.html "Johnson Makes her Choice"], ''New York Times,'' March 13, 1978.</ref><ref name=gymn>[http://www.gymn-forum.net/bios/women/johnson_k.html List of competition results], gymn-forum.net; accessed December 31, 2017.</ref>

In 1977, however, Johnson began to achieve great success in the sport. She won the 1977 American Cup, took a silver medal in the all-around at the NHK Cup in Japan, and won the floor exercise gold and the all-around silver at the 1977 [[USA Gymnastics National Championships|US Nationals]]. She continued to improve in 1978, becoming the US National all-around champion and winning the silver medal at the American Cup.<ref>{{Cite web|last=[[USA Gymnastics]]|date=January 16, 2009|title=USA Gymnastics Online: Results: 1978 Dial American Cup|url=https://usagym.org/PDFs/Results/americancup_results_1978.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200927104040/https://usagym.org/PDFs/Results/americancup_results_1978.pdf|archive-date=September 27, 2020|access-date=February 20, 2021|website=[[USA Gymnastics]]}}</ref>

At the [[1978 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships]] in [[Strasbourg]], Johnson placed eighth in the all-around—an excellent finish for an American gymnast at the time—and won a bronze medal on the [[floor exercise]], tying with Romania's [[Emilia Eberle]].<ref name=gymn/><ref name=lgipb>''Little Girls in Pretty Boxes'', Joan Ryan, 1995, Doubleday, New York; {{ISBN|0-385-47790-2}}</ref>

In 1979, the [[Supersisters]] trading card set was produced and distributed; one of the cards featured Johnson's name and picture.<ref>{{cite web|last=Wulf|first=Steve|url=https://www.espn.com/espnw/news-commentary/story/_/id/12535055/original-roster|title=Supersisters: Original Roster|publisher=Espn.go.com|date=2015-03-23|access-date=2015-06-04}}</ref>

After her win, Johnson remained a vital member of the US team, helping the squad achieve a sixth-place finish at the 1979 Worlds. However, problems with her verbally abusive coach, who pressured her to lose weight and train even when she was seriously injured, took their toll, both physically and emotionally. Struggling to complete her University studies and stay competitive in a sport that was increasingly embracing younger, lighter girls, she developed [[bulimia]].<ref name=lgipb/><ref name=perfect>[http://www.dcpsych.org/news/2003july.pdf "When the 'perfect' body isn't good enough"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060616124842/http://www.dcpsych.org/news/2003july.pdf |date=2006-06-16 }}, ''The Washington Psychiatric Society'', July 2003.</ref>

Johnson was further disheartened when the United States decided to join the [[1980 Summer Olympics boycott|boycott of the 1980 Moscow Olympics]]. She had placed second at the Olympic Trials, had been named the team captain of the American squad <ref name=culture>[http://www.globalsportsdevelopment.org/ambassadors.cfm?id=34 "Kathy Johnson Clarke"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120413040244/http://www.globalsportsdevelopment.org/ambassadors.cfm?id=34|date=2012-04-13}} Culture, Education, Sport and Ethics, 2008</ref> and had been considered a legitimate contender for success at the Games.<ref name=choice/><ref name=lgipb/> After relocating to Southern California to train at SCATS with [[Don Peters]], Johnson's fortunes and spirit improved. By 1983 she was representing the US at the World Championships again; placing eleventh in the all-around and qualifying to the floor exercise event final.<ref>{{cite web |title=1983 World Gymnastics Championships Budapest, Hungary October 23-30, 1983 |url=https://static.usagym.org/PDFs/Results/worlds_artistic_results_1983.pdf |website=[[USA Gymnastics]] |access-date=June 3, 2024 |pages=2}}</ref>

In 1984, at the age of twenty-four, Johnson earned a spot on the US team for the [[1984 Summer Olympics|1984 Olympics]] in [[Los Angeles]]. She was elected the team captain.<ref name=ig>{{cite web|url=http://www.intlgymnast.com/interview/usa_84.html|title="IG Online Interview: 1984 U.S. Women's Team"|accessdate=2007-09-23|url-status=bot: unknown |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040804084417/http://www.intlgymnast.com/interview/usa_84.html|archivedate=August 4, 2004}} ''International Gymnast'', July 18, 2004.</ref>

In addition to winning a silver medal with the squad, she won an individual bronze on the [[balance beam]]. In doing so, she became the second American female gymnast to medal in both a Worlds and an Olympics. Her teammate, Julianne Mcnamara, became the first American gymnast to hold that distinction, having won a bronze medal on the uneven bars at the 1981 World Championships and winning the gold medal (tied with Ma Yanhong of China) on the uneven bars one day before Johnson won her medal on beam.<ref name=lgipb/>

After Johnson retired from gymnastics, her career focus turned to television; less than a year after her Olympic win she appeared as a guest star on the children's show ''[[Kids Incorporated]].''

Johnson was a sports commentator for [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC-TV]]  Sports and [[ESPN]], covering multiple gymnastics events. In 2015, Johnson joined SEC Network in 2015 as a gymnastic analyst.<ref>{{cite web |URL=https://espnpressroom.com/us/bios/kathy-johnson-clarke/ |title=Kathy Johnson Clarke - Gymnastics Analyst |website=espnpressroom.com |accessdate=February 25, 2020 |archive-date=October 2, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221002130503/https://espnpressroom.com/us/bios/kathy-johnson-clarke/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
In film, Johnson also served as the technical advisor for [[Lifetime Television]]'s film ''[[Little Girls in Pretty Boxes]].''<ref name="imdb_johnson"/>

Johnson has been involved in several initiatives to improve conditions for gymnasts and other world-class athletes, and has spoken publicly and lectured about her struggle with bulimia and her experiences in gymnastics.<ref name=perfect/>

Johnson is a member of the Advisory Committee for Justice for Athletes, an organization supporting the emotional health of young people in sports,<ref>[http://www.jfaonline.org/board.cfm List of Advisory Board members, Justice for Athletes] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071113054527/http://www.jfaonline.org/board.cfm|date=2007-11-13}}</ref> and is an Olympic Athlete Ambassador for the Foundation for Global Sports Development's Culture, Education, Sports and Ethics Program.<ref name=culture/> She is also on the National Athletic Advisory Board for Athletes for a Better World.<ref>[http://www.abw.org/aboutus/boards.asp List of Advisory Board members] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080726165156/http://www.abw.org/aboutus/boards.asp |date=2008-07-26 }},  Athletes for a Better World website; accessed December 31, 2017.</ref>

== Filmography ==
* 1997 ''[[Little Girls in Pretty Boxes]]'' - as Technical advisor.<ref name="imdb_johnson">{{cite web |URL=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119551/fullcredits |title=Little Girls in Pretty Boxes (1997 TV Movie) |publisher=[[IMDb]] |date=1997 |accessdate=February 25, 2020}}</ref>

==Personal life==

Johnson's husband is [[Brian Patrick Clarke]], an actor. They have one son, Sean (born March 1998). Johnson also has a stepson, Cary (born August 1980), from Brian's previous marriage.<ref name=ig/>

Johnson is a [[Vegetarianism|vegetarian]] and used to suffer from [[bulimia]].<ref>[https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1992/07/30/growing-pains/ "Growing Pains"]. tampabay.com. Retrieved 20 January 2022.</ref>

==Eponymous skill==
Johnson has one eponymous skill listed in the [[Code of Points (gymnastics)|Code of Points]].<ref>{{cite web |title=2022-2024 Code of Points Women’s Artistic Gymnastics |url=https://www.gymnastics.sport/publicdir/rules/files/en_WAG%20CoP%202022-2024.pdf |website=[[International Gymnastics Federation]] |access-date=22 January 2022 |pages=209 |archive-date=12 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210512092714/https://www.gymnastics.sport/publicdir/rules/files/en_WAG%20CoP%202022-2024.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Women’s Artistic Gymnastics – 2025-2028 Code of Points |url=https://www.gymnastics.sport/publicdir/rules/files/en_1.1%20-%20WAG%20COP%202025-2028.pdf |website=[[International Gymnastics Federation]] |date=22 April 2024 |access-date=2 February 2025}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Apparatus  !! Name  !! Description  !! [[Code of Points (gymnastics)#Table of elements|Difficulty]]{{efn|name=difficulty|Valid for the 2025–2028 Code of Points}}
|-
| Balance beam || Johnson || Leap forward with leg change and 1/4 turn (90°) to side split leap (180°) or straddle pike position || C (0.3)
|}
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{FIG|bio=24675|lic=2748|name=Kathy Johnson}}
* [http://www.gymn-forum.net/bios/women/johnson_k.html List of competitive results], gymn-forum.net; accessed December 31, 2017.
* [http://collegegymnews.com/2018/09/20/kathy-johnson-clarke-through-the-ages/ Kathy Johnson Clarke at collegegymnews.com]
* {{Olympics.com|kathleen-ann-johnson|Kathleen Ann Johnson|org_id=kathy-johnson|org_name=Kathy Johnson|org_archive=20170327131813}}
* {{Olympedia}}
* {{InterSportStats|3000422545}}
* {{IMDb name|0164844}}

{{Footer USA Gymnastics 1980 Summer Olympics}}
{{Footer USA Gymnastics 1984 Summer Olympics}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Johnson, Kathy}}
[[Category:1959 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American female artistic gymnasts]]
[[Category:Gymnasts at the 1984 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Olympic silver medalists for the United States in gymnastics]]
[[Category:Olympic bronze medalists for the United States in gymnastics]]
[[Category:Medalists at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1984 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:U.S. women's national team gymnasts]]
[[Category:People from Indialantic, Florida]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Brevard County, Florida]]
[[Category:Originators of elements in artistic gymnastics]]
[[Category:20th-century American sportswomen]]