While competing in Beijing in 2008, Shawn Johnson won a total of four Olympic medals. Most notably, Johnson took home the gold for balance beam that year after completing a flawless routine (via Ames Tribune). After winning her gold medal, Johnson posed for the camera and happily showed off her new hardware. These are perhaps the most iconic pictures from her career as they perfectly capture how elite she was at such a young age.

In addition to her gold medal performance on the balance beam, Johnson took home three silver medals at the Olympics. She earned these medals for the team event, floor exercise, and all-around, which further proved her dominance in the field (via USA Gymnastics). Her time in Beijing was truly memorable for fans back home in the U.S. who were cheering the team on through every event. Johnson was training for the 2012 Olympic games in London where she would compete for the U.S. again, but opted to retire instead to focus on her mental and physical health (via ESPN).