Brandy Johnson

Brandy Johnson burst onto the national scene at the 1986 Junior Olympics, when she won the all-around, vault, beam, and floor titles. In 1987, she won the all-around in the junior division of the US Nationals. She competed that year at the Chunichi Cup where she finished 12th in all-around. At the 1988 Olympics, Johnson placed 10th in all-around, the highest US finish. Johnson continued competing after the Olympics, winning a silver medal on vault at the 1989 World Championships, also placing seventh in all-around. In 1990 she was fifth in all-around at the World Cup, but retired at the end of the season.

Johnson later married Bill Scharpf, a professional water skier, and they opened their own gymnastics club, Brandy Johnson’s Global Gymnastics Academy in Clermont, Florida. They also worked as stunt doubles in television and films. Johnson made a brief comeback late in 1991 in an attempt to make the 1992 Olympic team, but injuries hindered that attempt. Johnson later earned her level 8 judging license, and judged gymnastics meets. In 2000 she was inducted into the USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame. Her daughter, Sydney Johnson-Scharpf, also became a national caliber gymnast.