Carrie Johnson
Discipline: Sprint Kayak, K1 500m, K1 200m
Height: 5-6
Birthdate: 1984
Current Residence: Chula Vista, Calif. - Chula Vista Olympic Training Center
College: University California at San Diego (2009), Biochemistry
Team: San Diego Canoe & Kayak Team
Equipment: Nelo boat, Braca paddle
Olympic Experience:
- Two-time Olympian - 2004, 2008
- 2004: raced in the K-1 500m and K-4 500m (with Kathy Colin, Marie Mijalis and Lauren Spalding)
- 2008: raced in the K-1 500m
Career Highlights:
- 2010 World Cup No. 3: 9th in K-2 500m
- 2010 World Championships: 10th
- 2007 Worlds: 5th - K-1 500m; 4th - K-1 1000m
- 2007 World Cup II: 1st - K-1 1000m
- Beijing Test Event: silver medal - k1 500m
Recent Results:
- 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico: GOLD in K1 200m, GOLD in K1 500m, qualified an London 2012 Olympic slot for Team USA in Women's Kayak. Click HERE to read more about this accomplishment.
- 2011 World Championships in Szeged, Hungary: 8th in K1 200m B Final, 2nd in K1 500m C Final
- 2011 World Cup No. 3 in Duisburg, Germany: 9th in K1 200m A Final, 3rd in the K1 500m B Final
- 2011 World Cup No. 2 in Racice, Czech Republic: 6th in K1 500m A Final, 7th in K1 200m A Final
- 2011 US Sprint Team Trials: 1st in K1 200m, 1st in K1 500m, 1st in K2 500m
Personal:
- Family: Parents - Ronald and Sally Johnson; sisters - Stacy (22) and Virginia (21) Johnson
- Hobbies: Painting, learning to surf
- Nickname: "Care Bear"
- Honors: USOC Athlete of the Month (May 2007); San Diego Hall of Champions Athlete of the Month (August 2007)
- Job: I would like to become a veterinarian when I am finished paddling. I currently volunteer at a veterinary clinic to gain experience in the field.
- How'd you get started? I was introduced to the sport through the San Diego Jr. Lifeguard program when Chris Barlow started SDCKT.
- Click HERE to read a Q&A with Carrie.
- NBC San Diego video profile of Carrie
In 2003, Johnson was diagnosed with Crohn's disease, which left her unable to train in the 2003 and 2009 seasons. But, as Johnson's favorite quote "falling in life is unavoidable- staying down is optional" suggests, she has not let the disease keep her from her beloved sport. Learn more at crohnsandme.com
Carrie Johnson blew everyone out of the water in 2004 when she finished first in the K-1 500m race, earning an automatic spot on the 2004 Olympic Team. Four years later, she became the first member of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team - Canoe/Kayak to qualify by name.
Johnson, a native of San Diego, has been training at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, Calif., since 2002. She got involved in sports at a young age and started swimming when she was only three months old. She has participated in soccer, dancing and diving and was a gymnast for 11 years. Johnson began kayaking after getting involved through the Junior Lifeguard Program and the San Diego Canoe and Kayak Team. At the 2002 Bochum Jr. International Regatta, she finished ninth in K-2 500m, 12th in K-2 1000m and 13th in K-1 500m.
Once a promising junior sprint athlete, she was forced to miss the 2003 season due to injury and illness. While rehabilitating a shoulder injury, she was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease. In the second half of 2003, her condition stabilized and enabled her to train over the winter leading up to her winning the K-1W at the 2004 Olympic Team Trials, earning a trip to Athens by defeating two Olympians. At the Games in Athens, she had the highest U.S. finish at 10th - barely missing the cut to nine for the finals at age 20.
Since the Athens Olympic Games, she has steadily moved up among the worlds best, finishing eighth at the World Championships in 2005, sixth in 2006 and fifth in 2007. At the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials, she finished first in the women's K-1 500m and first in the women's K-2 500m with partner Maggie Hogan.
