Longines Swiss Watches congratulates Shawn Johnson (Weehawken, NJ, United States of America)

Longines Swiss Watches congratulates Shawn Johnson (Weehawken, NJ, United States of America)

May 21, 2009

Longines Swiss Watch Company is proud to congratulate its Ambassador of Elegance, Shawn Johnson and her dance partner, Mark Bellas, for winning ABC’s season nine Dancing with the Stars (DWTS). This dance competition is the first time Shawn has branched out of gymnastics and practiced dance. After 14 years on the gymnastic floor and as the youngest competitor ever on DWTS Shawn and her partner, Mark, took the dance floor by storm.

“The competition was fierce and everyone had their game face on,” notes Jennifer Judkins, Longines U.S. Brand Manager. Judkins and members of the Longines family attended the finals Monday, May 19, to support Shawn and Mark while gifting them with Longines watches as a good luck charm. “Shawn displayed the same elegance and grace as she does on the gymnastic floor. It was exciting and heart-pounding watching the two of them compete.” Shawn surprised Mark with the Longines GrandeVitesse watch as a thank you for being her partner and helping her earn the coveted mirrored ball trophy. Shawn states “next season if he dances again this will help him make sure he’s on time.” Shawn was gifted the Longines Conquest diamond bracelet watch valued at $4000. Mark was gifted a Longines GrandeVitesse bracelet watch valued a $2500; both watches are a part of the sports collection. This Longines Mark’s first Longines watch and Longines was proud to present it to him.

Shawn has been a Longines sports ambassador since 2008. During her time as Longines sports ambassador Shawn has won a gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, where she also earned 3 silver medals. The current two-time National Champion and high-school Junior appeared on a limited edition Cheerios box in early 2009 and was a headliner of last fall's Tour of Gymnastics Superstars and was named Choice Female Athlete at the 2008 Teen Choice Awards.

Mark Bellas, Shawn’s instructor and partner is a world-renowned instructor and he too won a gold medal in the Junior Olympics for dance. He is also a dance champion in British Juvenile Ballroom, Latin American, British Open to the World, US Open to the World and International Open.

Longines applauds Shawn and Mark on this wonderful achievement and wishes them to keep dancing.

Shawn Johnson, Mark Bellas, Jennifer Judkins, on the set of ABC's show Dancing with the Stars; Judkins and Johnson presented Bellas with the Longines GrandeVitesse bracelet. Shawn Johnson and Jennifer Judkins; Judkins presented Johnson with the Longines diamond Conquest on the set of ABC's show Dancing with the Stars. Shawn Johnson and Mark Bellas hugging as they are being interview by entertainment show Extra. Shawn surprised her partner with the GrandeVitesse as a thank you for helping take her to the finals, on the set of ABC's show Dancing with the Stars. Mark Bellas and Shawn Johnson showing off their new watches to the journalist and camera for entertainment show Extra, on the set of ABC's show Dancing with the Stars.