Johnson received the award along with Japan’s Hisashi Mizutori.

STUTTGART, Germany, Sept. 9, 2007 — 2007 world all-around champion Shawn Johnson of West Des Moines, Iowa, was awarded the 17th Longines Prize for Elegance, along with Japan’s Hiroyuki Tomita.  They received the well-known trophy created by the Swiss artist Piero Travaglini, a wristwatch from the Longines evidenza collection and a cheque for US$ 5,000.

 

Carly Patterson, the 2004 Olympic all-around champion, and Liukin are among the former recipients.

 

This distinction honours the athlete or team having demonstrated the most remarkable elegance in the course of an international competition at world level.  The athletes under consideration for the prize are evaluated on their performance in the all-around on a number of criteria, including technical considerations, emotional appeal, beauty, charm, charisma and grace and harmony of movement. This year’s vote was unanimous. The panel of judges included:  journalist Tina Gaedt; Dr. Bruno Grandi, president of the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG); Joerg Klein, brand manager for Longines in Germany; and Walter von Känel, president of Longines.