Winning Balance
What I've Learned So Far about Love, Faith, and Living Your Dreams
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Narrated by:
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Shawn Johnson
About this listen
Twenty-year-old American gymnast Shawn Johnson is a four-time Olympic gold and silver medalist; a national- and world-champion athlete. Already a popular role model to all ages, in 2009 she captured the national spotlight again when she won on the widely popular Dancing with the Stars.
Yet Shawn is no stranger to hard work and adversity. Her loss of the major gymnastics prize everyone expected her to win in Beijing, the all-around Olympic gold medal, was the loss of a dream she’d worked for since childhood. And later, she suffered a potentially career-ending injury in a skiing accident that forced her life to a halt and made her rethink what was really important. She wasn’t sure who she was anymore. She wasn’t sure what her goals were. And she wasn’t sure she was satisfied with where she was with her faith and God. Could she find the right kind of success in life—the kind that doesn’t involve medals or trophies, but peace, love, and lasting joy?
This is the amazing true journey of how the young woman who won an Olympic gold medal on the balance beam became even more balanced.
Download the accompanying reference guide.©2012 Shawn Johnson (P)2012 OasisListeners also enjoyed...
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Life in Motion
- An Unlikely Ballerina
- By: Misty Copeland
- Narrated by: Lisa Reneé Pitts
- Length: 9 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
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As the only African-American soloist dancing with the prestigious American Ballet Theatre, Misty Copeland has made history. But when she first placed her hands on the barre at an after-school community center, no one expected the undersized, anxious 13-year-old to become a groundbreaking ballerina. Life in Motion is a story of passion and grace for anyone who has dared to dream of a different life.
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Has Copeland heard this narration? Has Audible?
- By Debbie on 08-02-15
By: Misty Copeland
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Grace, Gold and Glory
- By: Gabrielle Douglas, Michelle Burford
- Narrated by: Haleakala Wilson
- Length: 4 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
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In the 2012 London Olympics, US gymnast Gabrielle Douglas stole hearts and flew high as the All-Around Gold Medal winner, as well as acting as a critical member of the US gold-medal-winning women gymnastics team. In this personal autobiography, Gabrielle tells her story of faith, perseverance, and determination, demonstrating you can reach your dreams if you let yourself soar.
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Grace, Gold and Glory
- By Pen Name on 03-21-17
By: Gabrielle Douglas, and others
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Solo
- A Memoir of Hope
- By: Hope Solo
- Narrated by: Christina Delaine
- Length: 10 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
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Hope Solo is the face of the modern female athlete. She is fearless, outspoken, and the best in the world at what she does: protecting the goal of the U.S. women's soccer team. Her outsized talent has led her to the pinnacle of her sport - the Olympics and the World Cup - and made her into an international celebrity who is just as likely to appear on ABC's Dancing with the Stars as she is on the covers of Sports Illustrated, ESPN The Magazine, and Vogue.
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Not your normal memoir
- By Rory on 02-14-15
By: Hope Solo
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Against All Odds
- My Story
- By: Chuck Norris, Ken Abraham
- Narrated by: Michael Norris
- Length: 7 hrs and 33 mins
- Abridged
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Millions of people around the world know Chuck Norris as the star of more than 20 motion pictures, including Delta Force, Missing in Action, and Return of the Dragon. Millions more know him as a martial arts expert, the only man in the Western Hemisphere to hold an 8th degree Black Belt Grand Master in Tae Kwon Do. And then there are others who know him from his eight seasons on CBS's longest running series, Walker, Texas Ranger.
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Against All Odds (Unabridged)
- By Janet Woodville on 12-24-05
By: Chuck Norris, and others
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Coming Up for Air
- By: Tom Daley
- Narrated by: Tom Daley
- Length: 6 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
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Tom Daley is one of the most beloved athletes of our time, having competed as a diver in four Olympics, garnering medals and finally, in 2021 in Tokyo, winning gold. But few people know the realities of his life beyond the pool—his struggles, his secret triumphs and the mindset he needed to cultivate to become a champion.
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Inspirational story!
- By Anonymous User on 11-19-24
By: Tom Daley
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Not Afraid of Life
- My Journey So Far
- By: Bristol Palin, Nancy French
- Narrated by: Bristol Palin
- Length: 6 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
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In this personal memoir, Bristol Palin opens up for the first time ever. She takes listeners behind the scenes, from growing up in Alaska to coming of age amid the media and political frenzy surrounding her mother's political rise; from becoming a single mother while still a teenager to coping as her relationship with the baby's father crumbled publicly. Through all of these ups and downs, Bristol learned how to face her challenges head-on, with courage and grace.
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Forgiveness
- By Dennis on 01-16-16
By: Bristol Palin, and others
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The Pact
- By: Cody Garbrandt, Mark Dagostino
- Narrated by: Dave Hoffman
- Length: 7 hrs and 27 mins
- Unabridged
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Cody Garbrandt grew up in a rough town in the Central Appalachian region of Ohio, surrounded by a longstanding culture of fighting - and drugs. Raised in this environment by a single mom (his dad left him at the young age of three to reside in the Ohio State Penitentiary), Cody grew up fighting, and he grew up wild. His future seemed predestined to end in the coal mines or in prison. Thankfully, Cody had visions of something more. His American dream? Mixed martial arts.
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Yikes.
- By Rebecca Whitman on 06-20-18
By: Cody Garbrandt, and others
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In the Water They Can't See You Cry
- A Memoir
- By: Amanda Beard, Rebecca Paley
- Narrated by: Tavia Gilbert
- Length: 8 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
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At the tender age of 14, Amanda Beard walked onto the pool deck at the Atlanta Olympics carrying her teddy bear, Harold, and left with two silvers and a gold medal. She competed in three more Olympic games, winning a total of seven medals, and enjoyed a lucrative modeling career on the side. At one point, she was the most downloaded female athlete on the Internet. Yet despite her astonishing career and sex-symbol status, Amanda felt unworthy of all her success. Unaware that she was suffering from clinical depression, she hid the pain beneath a megawatt smile.
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I applaud Amanda - but her editor's were lame
- By Heather on 03-10-15
By: Amanda Beard, and others
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Devoted
- The Story of a Father's Love for His Son
- By: Dick Hoyt, Don Yaeger
- Narrated by: Stephen Hoye
- Length: 5 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
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Born a spastic quadriplegic, Rick Hoyt was written off by numerous doctors, but his parents, Dick and Judy Hoyt, were determined to give their son all the opportunities of a "normal" kid. In 1977, 15-year-old Rick asked his dad to enter a charity race. The twist? Rick wanted to run it too. Dick had never run a race before, and the thought of pushing his son’s wheelchair while running was daunting. But, once again, Dick and Rick were determined to overcome any obstacle. More than 1,000 races later, the devoted father son duo is affectionately known worldwide as Team Hoyt.
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They found solutions
- By Amazon Customer on 09-09-24
By: Dick Hoyt, and others
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Rudy
- My Story
- By: Rudy Ruettiger
- Narrated by: Daniel Butler
- Length: 11 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
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How does a lower middle class kid, who suffered through school with undiagnosed dyslexia, get into Notre Dame and become the inspiration for millions in a Hollywood film that has become one of the most inspiring sport movies ever made? He never gave up. For the first time, read Daniel "Rudy" Ruettiger's real life story and learn the behind-the-scenes details of the ten years it took to make the movie and how that tossed him into a new career of public speaking that continues on stages today alongside world-class leaders and speakers.
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The rest of the story...
- By Deidre on 09-19-12
By: Rudy Ruettiger
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Why Soccer Matters
- By: Pele, Brian Winter
- Narrated by: Sean Pratt
- Length: 7 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
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Soccer. Football. The beautiful game. The world’s most popular sport goes by many names, but for decades, fans have agreed on one thing: the greatest player of all time was Pelé. Now the legendary star, ambassador, and humanitarian shares a global vision for what soccer can accomplish. Now he shares his story, his experience, and his insights on the game for the very first time. Before Messi, before Ronaldo, before Beckham, there was Edson Arantes do Nascimento - known simply as Pelé.
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A Pele that will win your heart.
- By Montholon on 12-24-20
By: Pele, and others
What listeners say about Winning Balance
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- PerJames1968
- 08-29-21
wow!
I've been following Shawn's career since the 2008 Olympics. Her determination bravery and love of our country Was clearly mapped out in this book. Great job Shawn write another
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- Leslie
- 03-14-16
Enjoyable read about a champion
What did you love best about Winning Balance?
I loved that Shawn was very open about her insecurities and her doubts as well as how she overcame them. I also liked that her parents were supportive and not trying to live their lives through her. The love and support she had was what she credits for her success. I also liked "getting to know" one of the USA's Olympic Medalists to learn more about what she was really like.
Who was your favorite character and why?
Shawn of course. That is who the story centers on but she did justice to her parents, coaches, and other athletes.
Have you listened to any of Shawn Johnson’s other performances before? How does this one compare?
This is my first one.
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
No, I enjoyed listening to it over a period of several days.
Any additional comments?
I gave this book a 4 out of 5 as I felt like the end left us hanging too much. In an updated version it would be nice to hear where she is now. At the time she wrote the book she was still a bit in limbo. I understand what she was saying is that chapter hasn't been written yet. Perhaps that opens the door for a second book. If so, I will definitely purchase it.
Shawn did not have any unusual obstacles to overcome (becoming an Olympic contender let alone a gold medalist is a huge success in itself) but the way she tells the story of no injuries, everyone being nice and welcoming, and very supportive parents, made it sound like her road was easy (yet we know it was not). I wanted to learn more about her obstacles and struggles, as well as doubts that she overcame to get there. I'm sure there were some. The book does hint at one, as her first coach said she had no talent.
It sounds a bit like all the other Olympic hopefuls and athletes were all very nice. While I am not a gymnast, I am an athlete and know there is fierce competition. She did a great job of telling how she didn't fit it in at school and how it felt to be teased, and also an incident during Dancing With the Starts, but what were some of the issues that helped build her character in the world of gymnastics. This is the type of information that would be helpful and inspirational to those who aspire to such dreams but run in to people along the way who try to throw obstacles in their way.
Overall, I enjoyed the book and I enjoyed Shawn's narration. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys not only gymnastics but also sports in general, or simply enjoys a good memoir.
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- MARC WOO
- 03-09-13
Winning Balance: A Perfect 10
What did you love best about Winning Balance?
I loved the fact that Shawn Johnson was speaking from her own experience all the way through the book. I have read books by other former gymnasts however this book is at the top of my list.
Who was your favorite character and why?
My favorite character has to be Shawn Johnson herself. She brings a fresh and exciting perspective to the world of gymnastics and beyond.
What does Shawn Johnson bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?
I just love hearing Shawn's voice from the various interviews on television and I was excited to hear that she was reading her own autobiography. Reading her own book adds a special touch to the story. There were some particularly tough and personal chapters and you could hear the inflection on Shawn's voice as she read through those chapters.
Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
There were a lot of moments in the book that particularly moved me but I think the one that I remember the most was Shawn's reflections on her potential career-ending injury. I won't say what it is here because I don't want to give away that part of the story.
A particularly funny moment in the book for me was the decision that Shawn's parents made when it came time to name her.
Any additional comments?
If you are a Shawn Johnson fan you will not be disappointed if you buy the book either in print or through Audible.com ... I have both versions and they are the best value for the money.
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- Anonymous User
- 12-04-19
LOVED HER STORY!
Shawn is such a beautiful person inside and out. She is filled with warmth and compassion. Her parents raised a truly remarkable young woman. It his her parents who have allowed her to soar yet kept her grounded at the same time. I truly do love her, her husband Andrew and their brand new baby girl Drew! Best wishes and may God Bless you, East Family! Signed a forever fan in Florida
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- Christy Carter
- 01-27-23
Beautiful story
I loved hearing Shawn tell her story. It it heartwarming to know that she is still achieving her dreams and influencing young gymnasts today.
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