Shawn Johnson confirms London 2012 comeback

American gymnast Shawn Johnson - who won four medals, including one gold at the Beijing Olympics - has announced she is returning to training ahead of London 2012.

The 18-year old - whose most high profile recent appearance was as a judge of the Miss America beauty pageant - said she would take time away from the sport following Beijing and missed last year's World Championships in London.

Johnson won balance beam gold two years ago and a treble of silvers in the team, all-around and floor event, in which Great Britain's Beth Tweddle is the reigning world champion.

Johnson told local media in her hometown of Des Moines that she always planned on returning - although her comeback will be delayed following recent reconstructive surgery on her knee.

"I've always said gymnastics was my life, I'll never live without it," she told the Des Moines Register. "I went two years trying to find an excuse to get away from it. But there's something about it that just pulled me back.

"I'm a little kid at heart and I can't get away from it. I love it and I missed it a lot."

Source: AP