Carol Johnston, was born in 1956, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. She started out as an ice skater then, she began doing gymnastics to strengthen her legs for figure skating, and fell in love with it. Starting at the age of 12 she put her heart and soul into gymnastics. 1n 1979 Carol competed in the Canada winter games, then in 1976 she competed in the Junior Olympics in Montreal, and also at the Hawaii Invitations.
Shortly thereafter, she enrolled at Cal-State Fullerton for college. "I thought I could improve as a gymnast at Fullerton," Carol said. "I also thought it would be
good for me to be out on my own." In her freshman season she became the conference beam champion. In her sophomore year she won beam and placed third in floor exercise at
her school's conference championships. She and her teammates traveled
to Seattle, Washington for the NCAA Championships. Placing second on
beam and floor, she earned All-American honors. Determined to win gold at the 1979 NCAAs, Carol trained her
hardest that season. Fate took a sad turn however, and she tore her
right ACL while warming up for a UCLA vs California State meet. The injury was
devastating, but provided Carol with insight, "Now
I really know what handicapped is" With her leg in a cast, she plowed ahead with conditioning. she was determined to be back as soon as possible. "I have a chance at a title, and I just have
to do it," she explained. "That's my goal." Carol did come back, but soon after she landed low on a tumbling pass, reinjuring her knee. Doctors repaired it, cautioning her that if she landed on it wrong again she may never walk again. Carol headed the advice and quit competitive gymnastics. "Having one arm was never a limitation, but my knee
was," Carol explaned. The move was hard for Carol, but by continuing to coach gymnastics to young children she was able to remain in the sport.
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Carol Johnston: The One Armed Gymnast
Carol Johnston, was born in 1956, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. She started out as an ice skater then, she began doing gymnastics to strengthen her legs for figure skating, and fell in love with it. Starting at the age of 12 she put her heart and soul into gymnastics. 1n 1979 Carol competed in the Canada winter games, then in 1976 she competed in the Junior Olympics in Montreal, and also at the Hawaii Invitations.
Shortly thereafter, she enrolled at Cal-State Fullerton for college. "I thought I could improve as a gymnast at Fullerton," Carol said. "I also thought it would be
good for me to be out on my own." In her freshman season she became the conference beam champion. In her sophomore year she won beam and placed third in floor exercise at
her school's conference championships. She and her teammates traveled
to Seattle, Washington for the NCAA Championships. Placing second on
beam and floor, she earned All-American honors. Determined to win gold at the 1979 NCAAs, Carol trained her
hardest that season. Fate took a sad turn however, and she tore her
right ACL while warming up for a UCLA vs California State meet. The injury was
devastating, but provided Carol with insight, "Now
I really know what handicapped is" With her leg in a cast, she plowed ahead with conditioning. she was determined to be back as soon as possible. "I have a chance at a title, and I just have
to do it," she explained. "That's my goal." Carol did come back, but soon after she landed low on a tumbling pass, reinjuring her knee. Doctors repaired it, cautioning her that if she landed on it wrong again she may never walk again. Carol headed the advice and quit competitive gymnastics. "Having one arm was never a limitation, but my knee
was," Carol explaned. The move was hard for Carol, but by continuing to coach gymnastics to young children she was able to remain in the sport.
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