Olympian Shawn Johnson Partners with Varsity

MEMPHIS, Tenn., March 27, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson has recently partnered with Varsity. Johnson will be the newest member of the broadcast team for the National Championships held in Orlando, Florida and Dallas, Texas. She will also be endorsing the OZONE line of gymnastics apparel and helping to develop a new line of leotards.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110301/CL56274LOGO )

Varsity, based in Memphis, Tenn., is the leader in cheerleading and dance team education, events and apparel.  Their national events have been televised since 1980, and are currently broadcast on ESPN and CBS Sports.

Shawn Johnson was the 2008 Olympic gold medalist in balance beam and the silver medalist in floor exercise, and is also known to millions as the youngest champion of Dancing With The Stars' eighth season. Johnson's design flair was seen in many of the costumes that she helped design.

Varsity has had a long relationship with Johnson, and recently hosted a book signing for Johnson's second book, Winning Balance. "The entire Varsity organization is excited about working with Shawn Johnson, who is not only recognized as an incredible athlete, but also as a great role model for young people in America," says Jeff Webb, Founder and CEO of Varsity.

Johnson agrees, "I've attended the National High School Cheerleading Championship several times now, and I'm proud to be affiliated with an organization that does so much to foster self-esteem, a love of fitness and positive energy in the young athletes I see there."

OZONE, which began producing gymnastics wear in 2010, is thrilled to work with Johnson, and knows that her insight will be invaluable to the design team.

"I am so excited to work with OZONE to promote this beautiful line of leotards and gymnastics apparel," says Johnson. "As a gymnast myself, I know the value of dynamic colors and design, and am confident that the OZONE line will resonate with gymnasts everywhere."

Mike Martinez, President of OZONE agrees, "OZONE is thrilled about the partnership with Shawn Johnson.  Shawn's determination and competitiveness mirrors OZONE's own corporate drive.  With Shawn's insight and knowledge, we will be launching an exclusive collection of products and look forward to having an exciting year.

For more information, please contact Sheila Noone, 901-251-5959, or [email protected].

About Varsity
Varsity is the source for all things related to cheerleading and dance team.  With a rich heritage and traditions dating back to 1974, Varsity is an innovative global leader comprised of the leading spirit brands and organizations including its educational camps, clinics, competitions and uniforms to teams around the world. Varsity's National Championships, many of which are held at the Walt Disney World® Resorts, have been televised on ESPN Networks for more than 25 years.  Sponsors for Varsity events include Gatorade, Playtex Sport, Softlips, Oxy, PBTeen, and Herff Jones. Web-based Varsity TV features thousands of cheerleading and dance team videos and has become a favorite cheer destination for cheerleaders and coaches alike.  Varsity has led the way in cheerleading safety as a supporter of the American Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Administrators since 1987 and as a camp leader training more than 350,000 cheerleaders per year in cheerleading fundamentals with an emphasis on safety. In 2012, Varsity purchased American Cheerleader Magazine, which has showcased the cheerleading community since 1995. Based in Memphis, Tennessee, Varsity employs 5,000 employees nationwide.  For more information about Varsity, please visit http://www.varsity.com.

About Ozone
OZONE, founded in 2010 and based in Knoxville, Tenn., is a vibrant gymnastics apparel brand with a design rich, value-priced line of products. With the nation's largest team of highly trained sales specialists, OZONE has made a name for itself by targeting private clubs and gyms at the local level. Currently, this sales team has an audience of more than 200,000 customers.

SOURCE Varsity