Olympic star flips to become new ‘Dancing’ champ

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Shawn Johnson is adding a mirrorball trophy to her collection of Olympic medals.

The 17-year-old gymnast was named “Dancing With the Stars” champion Tuesday during the season finale of the hit ABC show.

The winning couple held the mirrorball trophy aloft as the rest of the contestants rushed out to greet them, hoisting them into the air as sparkling confetti flew.

“This has been the best experience ever,” Johnson said after her victory. “I’ve grown so much.”

Johnson was tied with fellow finalist Gilles Marini after Melissa Rycroft was dismissed earlier in Tuesday’s show.

All three finalists performed one last dance, each earning a perfect score of 30 from the judges. Viewer votes are combined with judges’ scores to determine the “Dancing” champ.

Show host Tom Bergeron said “less than 1 percent” separated the two finalists.

“This has been, without a doubt the best season ever,” said head judge Len Goodman. “We’ve got the three best dancers here in the final.”

“I’m so happy for Shawn and Mark. They worked so hard,” Marini said, referring also to Mark Ballas, Johnson’s professional dance partner.

Former contestant Jeffrey Ross came back for a little comic relief, roasting the three finalists, calling them, “the underage, the unwed and the unpronounceable.”

Tuesday’s season finale also featured a performance by Lady Gaga and the finale of the new pro-dancer competition. Anna Damidova competed with three other professional dancers for a spot on next season’s “Dancing With the Stars.”

Previously dismissed celebrities — including Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, rodeo champ Ty Murray, funnyman Steve-O, singer Belinda Carlisle, rapper Lil Kim, former football star Lawrence Taylor, country singer Chuck Wicks, reality star Holly Madison, and actors David Alan Grier and Denise Richards — returned for a last dance.