Christina answered the following 10 questions for this month's USA Taekwondo Athlete Profile:

Q1: During all the long hours of traveling, what do you do to pass your time?

CHRISTINA JOHNSON: If I am traveling by myself, I mostly listen to music. If I am traveling with teammates, then it depends. For example, once we played charades in the back of my car. Sometimes we play cards. Other times we’ll watch movies.


Q2: Do you have a pre-competition meal?

CHRISTINA JOHNSON: I don’t have a specific meal before competition but I do prefer to have an equal amount of carbs and protein the night before a competition and also for breakfast.


Q3: What is your favorite sports movie and why?

CHRISTINA JOHNSON: I really liked Miracle and that was my favorite for a long time until Master Ramy recommended Million Dollar Baby. Both are very motivational. They make me want to get up and train right then and there.


Q4: Do you have any pre-competition superstitions or rituals that you adhere to?

CHRISTINA JOHNSON: I don’t have any superstitions but I do have certain clothes that I wear. I always wear Master Dring’s uniform top and Master Ramy’s WTM jacket.


Q5: Who is a superhero you'd like to be, and why?

CHRISTINA JOHNSON: I don’t know because I never paid very much attention to superheroes so I think I would have to make up one. Since all the superheroes have weaknesses, I would have to be a superhero without any weaknesses so I could never be defeated.


Q6: What is your dream job?

CHRISTINA JOHNSON: I think I’d have to separate “dream” from “job.” Being on the U.S. Olympic Team is my dream. After that, I would like to be a Taekwondo coach and own my own business, even if that business is not Taekwondo related. I want to be my own boss and make a lot of money so that I can still be part of Taekwondo.


Q7: After a long, hard week of training, what do you do to reward yourself?

CHRISTINA JOHNSON: My week never really ends because I train 7 days a week. Usually though, I will go out with friends to a movie or to the mall, sit home and play video games or relax with my family.


Q8: Who is a teammate that has had an influence on you, and why?

CHRISTINA JOHNSON: All of my WTM teammates have had an influence on me but if I had to choose one, then it would be Thomas Ly. We always seem to be motivated at the same times and when one of us is motivated and the other is not, we will motivate the other to do the drills we are supposed to do and push each other. One of the things I like about Thomas is his fighting style. I think that I am fighting a little like him these days and that’s a good thing because he is very talented. His speed is incredible.

Amanda Thome and Brandi Powers are also a huge help in motivation. They are excellent training partners and they always keep me going. Amanda is always holding paddles for Brandi and me on Saturdays.


Q9: What is your favorite kind of candy?

CHRISTINA JOHNSON: Chocolate and Sour Patch Kids. My Granny always buys them for me.


Q10: What is it like being the youngest member of the World University Games team?

CHRISTINA JOHNSON: So far, just being able to say that I am the youngest team member is very cool. It shows my success at a young age and I hope this is a reflection of what is in store for me in the years to come. I feel like it’s a big accomplishment to make collegiate team by coming from the high school division.

Even though I am the youngest team member, I don’t think that will affect my ability to gel with the rest of the team. I know so many of the team members and have traveled to competitions with most of them already.