Johnson's Olympic experience

Jacquelyn Johnson met President George Bush, hung out a few feet from Michael Phelps and she competed against the best athletes in the world.

The 2003 Yuma High graduate might have been a little awestruck as she realized her lifelong dream of participating in the Olympics.

"The first time I went out on that track there was like a million people in the stands. I was mesmerized," Johnson said of the first day of competition in Beijing, "because with the heptathlon you don't get much love from the fans. There's usually not too many spectators other than everyone's family.

"My first event I looked up and it seemed like there were no seats available. It was awesome."

Johnson added that having her mother, Beth Knapp, and her twin, Jermyn Johnson, in Beijing made the experience much more special.

Local businesses and members of the community banded together to raise enough money to send Knapp and Jermyn to Beijing to support Johnson.

"You can't really put it into words. It was the best experience of my life, except for having my kids and my grandchild," Knapp said. "Me and Jermyn just had a blast the whole time."

The only thing missing from Johnson's whole experience was her coach, Dan O'Brien.

O'Brien had to tend to a family emergency and could not make the trip with Johnson.

"I told him just to handle what he had to handle, because he was very worried about me," Johnson said. "I told him 'Dan, I'm not always going to have you there, so I have to learn to do it by myself. I'm pro now, so I'm not going to be traveling with you all the time. I know this is the big one, but I'll be fine.'"

Knapp said she was very nervous watching Johnson compete.

"It was hard because she didn't know where I was in the stands," she said. "Usually when I go to watch her compete I let her know I'm there. It calms her when she knows I'm there, and this time she couldn't see me. She knew I was there, she just didn't know where."

Johnson made it through five of the seven heptathlon events before a hamstring injury forced her to drop out.

She said that she could feel the injury gradually coming on and it really started to bother her during the high jump. After a long break between events, Johnson started to cramp up and could only get through one long jump before her hamstring wouldn't let her go any longer.

She said she talked to coaches, trainers and doctors before she decided it wasn't worth pushing through the competition. Johnson was in 21st place at the time she pulled out.

"It was depressing, but it was a smart move on my behalf," Johnson said. "If I were to continue and hurt it real bad it's never the same coming back from an injury like that. I had to be strong and just pull myself out.

"I'm young and I want to be able to go to the next two (Olympics), and having a hamstring injury might hold me back."

Knapp said it was difficult to sit in the stands and not know what was going on with her daughter at the time of the injury.

"It was hard for me to watch her leave and I couldn't contact her," Knapp said. "I ran back to the hotel waiting for her to call. The first thing she said when she called was 'I feel like I let down Yuma.' I go, 'Jacquelyn, if your body doesn't let you do it they'll understand.'"

Johnson has been resting, visiting friends and family and traveling since the Olympics. Her professional season begins the first week of October.

Johnson and Knapp both added that they're extremely grateful to Yuma for making Johnson's Olympic dream extra special.

"Without Yuma's love and support we just wouldn't have made it," Knapp said. "It was truly a blessing."