Shannon at the Garden State Plaza Mall on September 10, 1994, by Melissa
Meeting Shannon Miller
I'll never forget the day that I met one of my favorite gymnasts, Shannon Miller. I had learned from an ad in the newspaper that she would be making an appearance at the Garden State Plaza Mall, which is near where I live. Shannon would be at Macy's, promoting their new Swatch watch collection, featuring scenes from past Olympic sites. Shannon had on the Barcelona watch, where she had competed and won five medals in 1992.
The day was September 10, 1994. I got to the mall early enough so that I could avoid a crowd of people and get to meet Shannon quickly. My excitement was building as I chatted with some fellow Shannon fans in line. It was a good decision to get to Macy's early, because I only had about six people ahead of me in line. Most were teen-agers like myself (I was 18, almost 19, at the time) and younger girls -- some had their hair pulled back into the braided bun style that Shannon was famous for.
After we impatiently looked at our watches, and repeatedly asked "Where's Shannon?" the moment arrived. Shannon arrived, escorted by two men in suits -- I was guessing they were with Macy's. Shannon had on jeans, a T-shirt and her Dynamo Gymnastics warm-up jacket. Her hair was pulled back into a ponytail and it appeared as though she had cut it recently. She looked very pretty. :)
The people in front of me in line took photos with Shannon and she signed autographed pictures that Macy's had supplied. Some fans had her sign T-shirt or other Shannon photos they had. Then it was my turn! I got to meet Shannon Miller!! I said "Hi" and asked her to sign an autographed for me and my friend Joanne, who lived in California and couldn't come out on such short notice. Shannon was really sweet and signed both pictures. I also took a couple of pictures with her (but I didn't like how I came out, so those photos will not be scanned, lol!) I said "Good luck" to Shannon as I left and she quietly said "Thank you." I could tell that she was still a bit shy, even though it had been two years since she'd become the most famous gymnast in the world!
If I had the chance to meet Shannon again, I would definitely go! I really admire and respect her for trying to make the 2000 team. It showed me what determination, dedication, and true love for gymnastics she has. I wish her the best of luck in her future! :)
