Jordan Chiles' score change overturned by court, Impacting final standings

Photo by Skylar Walker, Copyright 2024 All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly

Copyright 2024 All Rights Reserved

PARIS, FRANCE (August 10, 2024) The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) recently announced a decision that has changed the results of the women’s floor exercise event in gymnastics at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. On July 5, Jordan Chiles of the United States had her score adjusted after an inquiry. However, the CAS ruled that the appeal was filed too late, exceeding the allowed time limit by four seconds. As a result, Chiles’ score of 13.666, which was initially revised upward, has been reverted to its original value.

This decision moves Chiles from third place to fifth place in the final standings. USA Gymnastics and the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee expressed their disappointment in a joint statement. They emphasized that the appeal was made in good faith, following the rules, to ensure accurate scoring.

The statement also addressed the negative treatment Chiles has faced on social media since the appeal.

The statement can be read here.

USA Gymnastics President and CEO Kerry Perry resigns

From USA Gymnastics Press Release

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA (September 4, 2018)  USA Gymnastics President and CEO Kerry Perry last evening informed the Board of Directors that she will resign effectively immediately.  The board has immediately begun to identify an interim CEO and is in the process of establishing a search committee to find a permanent replacement. 

“On behalf of the Board of USA Gymnastics, I want to thank Kerry for her leadership under very difficult circumstances,” said Karen Golz, chair of the USA Gymnastics Board.

“In the wake of horrific events that have impacted our athletes and the entire gymnastics community, USA Gymnastics has made progress in stabilizing itself and setting a new path to ensure that the safety and interests of our athletes remains at the heart of our mission,” said Golz.

“Over the past nine months, USA Gymnastics has been in the midst of a major transition as it implements recommendations made by Deborah Daniels in her report, following her independent review of the organization’s safe sport policies and procedures, as well as directives of the USOC,” continued Golz. “These changes have included amending the organization’s by-laws and the appointment of an entirely new board of directors, made up of eight independent members and seven from within the gymnastics community.  Most importantly, USA Gymnastics has been focused on athlete safety and well-being and ensuring that programs and protocols are in place to prevent all forms of abuse and to encourage athletes to speak up.  This process has been challenging, and painful, but is a necessary step in moving the community forward.”

The Board of Directors also established a management committee to provide organizational oversight to maintain continuity in the day-to-day operations until an interim CEO is named.  The management committee members include Karen Golz, chair; David Rudd, vice chair and secretary, and board member, Kathryn Carson.

The board is in the process of forming a search committee of board members, as well as athletes and others from the gymnastics and NGB community to search for a permanent president and CEO. Board member and Olympian Brent Lang, president and CEO of Vocera, will chair the committee.  The committee has been charged with finding a leader who can help the organization build on the progress to date and achieve the fundamental cultural changes necessary to move the sport forward. 

USA Gymnastics names Valeri Liukin as women’s national team coordinator

Photo by John Cheng, USA Gymnastics,, Copyright 2016
Used with permission via USA Gymnastics
Communications Department

From USA Gymnastics Press Release

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA (September 16, 2016) Two-time Olympic champion Valeri Liukin of Parker, Texas, has been named the U.S. Women’s National Team coordinator, USA Gymnastics announced today.  Liukin, who has served as the elite developmental coordinator since 2013, is perhaps best-known as the personal coach for Nastia Liukin, who won the 2008 Olympic all-around title and has five Olympic and nine World career medals. Liukin, who will remain based in Texas, will report to Rhonda Faehn, senior vice president of women’s program for USA Gymnastics.

“Valeri has excelled as a personal coach, and he has demonstrated his ability to lead and guide other coaches through his efforts as the elite developmental coordinator,” said Steve Penny, president of USA Gymnastics.  “He will provide a smooth transition from the program that has been created, and Valeri is recognized as a capable and talented coach.”

Faehn said, “Valeri already has been working with future national team members for 2020 and 2024 as the elite developmental coordinator.  He is known for his coaching techniques and his willingness to share that knowledge with upcoming coaches.  As a personal coach and developmental coordinator, Valeri has been involved in the semi-centralized system that has achieved the USA’s greatest international results and already has a strong working relationship with the country’s top coaches on the senior, junior and developmental levels. Valeri and I share a vision for the continued success of USA Gymnastics.”

“I am very honored to accept the position of national team coordinator,” said Liukin. “I'm ready to put all of my knowledge and passion into leading the women's national team to continued success.”

As the U.S. Women’s National Team coordinator, Liukin will develop the strategic plan and training program for all members of the U.S. Women’s National Team, including conducting national team training camps; attending national and international competitions as needed; overseeing international competition assignments for athletes, coaches and judges; coordinating scheduling and activities for the developmental program and the Talent Opportunity Program (TOPs); and working with the national coaching staff. He is just the third person to serve as the U.S. women’s national team coordinator, following Martha Karolyi (2001-16) and Bela Karolyi (1999-2000). 

Most recently, Liukin directed the women's athlete developmental program as the elite developmental coordinator.

Photo by John Cheng, USA Gymnastics,, Copyright 2016
Used with permission via USA Gymnastics
Communications Department

Liukin is a co-founder and owner of the World Olympic Gymnastics Academy (WOGA), which has produced more than 30 national team members and 35 World and Olympic medals, including Olympic all-around champions Carly Patterson in 2004 and Nastia Liukin in 2008 and 2016 Olympic team gold and uneven bars silver medalist Madison Kocian. He was the personal coach for Nastia Liukin, who won the 2008 Olympic all-around title and has five Olympic and nine World medals to her credit; Rebecca Bross, who has six World medals; Ivana Hong, 2009 World balance beam bronze medalist; and Katelyn Ohashi, 2013 AT&T American Cup champion and 2011 U.S. junior all-around gold medalist. His coaching accomplishments and accolades include: U.S. National Team coach, 1998-2011; International Coach of the Year, 2002, 2004; International Gymnastics Hall of Fame, 2005; USA Gymnastics Coach of the Year, 2006; U.S. Team head coach, 2007 Pan American Games; 2008 U.S. Olympic Team coach; 2009 International Gymnastics Coach of the Year; and USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame (2016).

As an athlete, Liukin was a member of the Soviet National Team from 1985-92. During his career, he won two gold and two silver medals at the 1988 Olympic Games; five gold medals at the 1990 Goodwill Games; two gold medals and one silver at the 1987-91 World Championships; and four gold, one silver and one bronze at the European Championships. He was the first gymnast to perform a triple back flip on floor and has a horizontal bar skill named after him.

Liukin earned a bachelor’s degree in physical education from Kazakh Academy of Sport and Tourism in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

Five Texan gymnasts to compete for USA in Pacific Rim Championships

Simone Biles will lead the USA gymnasts
at the Pacific Rim Championships.
Photo by John Cheng/USA Gymnastics

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2014 TexSport Publications

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA (March 24, 2014) Five athletes from Texas were selected to represent the United States at the 2014 Pacific Rim Gymnastics Championships in Canada on April 9-11, 2014.

2013 World all-around champion Simone Biles of the World Gymnastics Centre will lead the team of elite American gymnasts to the competition in Richmond, B.C.,

Simone is the 2013 World Championships all-around & floor exercise gold medalist, vault silver medalist and balance beam bronze medalist. She also finished fourth in the uneven bars final.

In addition, she is the 2013 U.S. all-around champion and vault, uneven bars, balance beam and floor exercise silver medalist and the 2013 AT&T American Cup silver medalist.

The Spring, Texas native will be accompanied on the artistic team by fellow Texan Bailie Key (Montgomery, Texas) of Texas Dream Gymnastics.

Bailey is the 2013 P&G Championship junior division gold medalist in all-around, balance beam, and floor exercise.

On the men’s side, Houston’s Chris Brooks of Team Hilton HHonors and Cypress Gymnastics and Katy’s Davis Grooms of Champions Gymnastics will also compete in Canada.

Brooks is the 2014 Winter Cup Challenge all-around champion, high bar silver medalist, and an alternate for the 2013 U.S. Olympic Team.

Grooms is the 2013 Men's Junior Olympic (13-14) national champion in the all-around, high bar and still rings.

In addition, Nicky Wojtana of Plano, Texas and the Texas Rhythmic Academy will compete in the female junior rhythmic competition.

The Pacific Rim Championships is a major regional gymnastics competition held every two years and is open to teams from member nations of the Pacific Alliance of National Gymnastics.  

Member countries include Australia, Canada, China, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Russia, United States and other nations on the Pacific coast.

USA Gymnastics Names Teams for 2009 World Championships

HUNTSVILLE, TEXAS (October 5, 2009) 2008 Olympic team silver-medalist and 2009 U.S. all-around champion Bridget Sloan of Pittsboro, Ind., Sharp's Gymnastics; Rebecca Bross of Plano, Texas, WOGA Gymnastics; Ivana Hong of Lovejoy, Texas, WOGA Gymnastics; and Kayla Williams of Nitro, W.V., Gym Nest Inc., will represent the United States on the U.S. Women’s Team at the 2009 World Championships, Oct. 13-18, in London, England.

The alternates are Kytra Hunter of Frederick, Md., Hill's Gymnastics and Mackenzie Caquatto, Naperville, Ill., Naperville Gymnastics Club.

The format for this year’s World Championships features all-around and individual event competition. The U.S. Women’s Team was selected based on performances at the 2009 Visa Championships in Dallas, Texas, and two U.S. Women’s Team Selection Camps, which were held at USA Gymnastics Women’s National Team Training Center in Huntsville, Texas.

Sloan, a member of the 2008 silver-medal winning Olympic Team, won her first U.S. all-around title, as well as the uneven bars and floor exercise crowns, at the 2009 Visa Championships in August. 2008 Olympic Team alternate Hong finished a close second in the all-around and won the U.S. balance beam title. 2007 U.S. junior champion Bross was third in the all-around. Williams won the vault title at the 2009 Visa Championships.

The competition will be held at the O2, the gymnastics venue at the 2012 Olympic Games. Qualification rounds determine advancement to the all-around and apparatus finals. The top 24 men and women compete in the all-around finals on Oct. 15-16. For individual events, the top eight on each apparatus from the qualification rounds advance to the finals (Oct. 17-18).

The U.S. Men’s Team for the World Championships was named earlier and is comprised of: Jake Dalton, Sparks, Nev./University of Oklahoma; Wes Haagensen, Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Olympic Training Center; Jonathan Horton, Houston/Cypress Gymnastics Academy; Steven Legendre, Flower Mound, Texas/University of Oklahoma; Danell Leyva, Miami/Universal Gymnastics; and Tim McNeill, Falls Church, Va./University of California – Berkeley.

USA wins 18 medals at Pan American Trampoline and Tumbling Championships

BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA (December 8, 2008) The USA earned 18 medals, 10 in the senior division and eight in the age-group competition, at the 2008 Pan American Trampoline and Tumbling Championships in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The U.S. athletes claimed five gold, three silver and two bronze medals at the senior level, and five gold, two silver and one bronze in the age-group competition.

Kalon Ludvigson of Sterling, Utah/Team Revolution, won gold medals in senior men’s tumbling and double mini-trampoline. He placed first in tumbling with a score of 76.00 and set a new world record for degree of difficulty with a 14.60. Austin White finished fifth with a 63.10. Ludvigson won double mini with a score of 74.30. Leanne Seitzinger of Stafford, Va./Novak's Gymnastics, earned the gold medal in senior women’s tumbling with a 64.20 and Amy McDonald of Richardson, Texas/Eagle's Wings Athletics, finished fourth.

In senior synchronized trampoline, Logan Dooley of Lake Forest, Calif./World Elite Gymnastics, and Steven Gluckstein of Atlantic Highlands, N.J./Ultra Twisters, placed first for the men with a score of 48.10. Alaina Hebert of Broussard, La./World Elite Gymnastics and Alaina Williams of Amarillo, Texas/The Matrix Trampoline Team, finished third for the women with a score of 41.30.

In the senior team competition, Hebert, Williams and Nani Vercruyssen of Honolulu, Hawaii/Hawaii Academy, won the women’s trampoline gold medal. The men’s team of Dooley, Gluckstein and Michael Devine of Winnebago, Ill./J & J Tumbling and Trampoline, finished fourth.

The USA claimed two medals in senior men’s trampoline. Devine earned a score of 38.50 and Dooley posted a 38.30, to finish second and third, respectively. Canada’s Jason Burnett won the gold medal with a 39.60. For the women, Vercruyssen won the silver medal with a 35.20 and Hebert finished eighth. Canada’s Rosannagh MacLennan placed first with a 37.00.

Aubree Balkan of Carlsbad, Calif./GTC Academy, won the silver medal in senior women’s double mini with a score of 68.60, and Sarah Prosen finished fourth with a 66.10, just one tenth of a point out of third place. Canada’s Julie Warnock won the gold medal with a 69.90.

Winning medals in the age-group competition were: Jake Jacobson of Rocklin, Calif./American Powerhouse T&T, two silver in 11-12 year-old men’s trampoline and double mini; Dakota Earnest of Plains, Texas/Acrospirits, gold in 15-16 year-old women’s trampoline; Jeffrey Gluckstein of Atlantic Highlands, N.J./Ultra Twisters, gold in 15-16 year-old men’s trampoline; Conor Murphy of Lake Forest, Calif./Team OC, gold in 15-16 year-old men’s tumbling and bronze in double mini; and Lisa Van Orden of Pingree, Idaho/Team Revolution, two gold in 15-16 year-old women’s double mini and tumbling.

USA wins two gold, three silver at PAGU Individual Event Championships

ROSARIO, ARGENTINA (November 23, 2008) The USA won two gold and three silver medals on the first day of the individual event finals at the 2008 Pan American Gymnastics Union Individual Event Championships in Rosario, Argentina. The U.S. women took the top two spots in both the uneven bars and vault: Samantha Shapiro of Los Angeles/All Olympia Gymnastics Center took first on the uneven bars, and Corrie Lothrop of Danvers, Mass./Hill’s Gymnastics, won the title on vault, as well as the bars silver. Olivia Courtney of Orlando, Fla./Orlando Metro, was second on vault, and Danell Leyva of Miami, Fla./Universal Gymnastics, finished second on pommel horse. The finals in women’s balance beam and floor exercise and men’s vault, parallel bars and horizontal bar will be held Nov. 23.

For the uneven bars, Shapiro won the gold medal with a 15.425, and Lothrop’s 14.350 put her in second. Lothrop took top honors on vault with a 14.375. Courtney was second on vault at 14.313.

For the men, Leyva’s 14.550 on pommel horse earned him second place. Glen Ishino of Santa Ana, Calif./SCATS-HB, finished fifth on pommel horse with a 13.900. Leyva also placed sixth on the floor exercise with a 13.075.

USA Gymnastics awards 2009 Visa Championships to Dallas

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana (October 12, 2008) USA Gymnastics has awarded the 2009 Visa Championships to Dallas, marking two firsts for the prestigious event: not only is this the event’s first visit to Dallas, but it is also the first time the event has featured all five of USA Gymnastics’ competitive disciplines – men’s and women’s gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, trampoline and tumbling, and acrobatic gymnastics. Scheduled for Aug. 12-15, American Airlines Center will play host to men’s and women’s gymnastics, with the Dallas Convention Center holding the rhythmic and acrobatic gymnastics and trampoline and tumbling competition. The USA Gymnastics National Congress and Trade Show, which is held in conjunction with the Visa Championships, will be staged at the Sheraton Dallas Hotel.

“Dallas has played an important role in the success of our past two Olympic teams,” said Steve Penny, president of USA Gymnastics. “Both Nastia Liukin and Carly Patterson, who have won the last two Olympic all-around gold medals, call Dallas home. Dallas is a city with a great gymnastics tradition, and it is a wonderful location for our most prestigious event.”

In addition to 2008 Olympic all-around champion Nastia Liukin of Parker, Texas, other national team members from the Dallas area include junior women’s gymnasts Rebecca Bross of Plano and Briley Casanova of Dallas, and senior men’s gymnast Steven Legendre of Flower Mound. Between men’s and women’s gymnastics and trampoline and tumbling, 17 junior and senior national team members hail from or train in the state of Texas: men – Houston’s Raj Bhavsar, Sean Golden, Jonathan Horton and Sean Townsend, and Kingwood’s Dylan Akers, as well as Legendre; women – Chelsea Davis of Lakeway and Alaina Johnson of Tyler, along with Bross, Casanova and Liukin; and trampoline and tumbling – Amanda Bailey of Lubbock, Dakota Earnest of Plains, Sarah Gandy of Paris, Amy McDonald of Richardson, Savannah Vinsant of Newton and Alaina Williams of Amarillo.

“Dallas is privileged to host this prestigious event,” said Dave Brown, vice president and general manager of American Airlines Center. “The Visa Championships is a showcase for the USA’s top gymnasts, many of whom live right here in the Dallas area.”

The Visa Championships determines the U.S. champions and the national team for each discipline for both the junior and senior elite levels. NBC Sports will broadcast action from men’s and women’s gymnastics. Tickets are expected to go on sale later this year.

"For 15 years, Visa has been proud to support American gymnastics, and the Visa Championships are a cornerstone of our ongoing commitment to America's Olympic athletes," said Michael Lynch, head of global sponsorship management, Visa Inc. "Following the success of the U.S. gymnastics team in Beijing, we're expecting an exciting event for the athletes and their growing number of fans."

“We’re excited that the Visa Championships is being held right here in our own backyard,” said Valeri Liukin, father and coach of Nastia Liukin, and owner of WOGA. “Dallas is a great place for gymnastics, and our athletes are looking forward to competing at home in front of their friends and family.”

Both men’s and women’s gymnastics will have two days of competition at American Airlines Center, which has hosted the post-Olympic tour for gymnastics. Anchoring the 72-acre Victory Park development, American Airlines Center serves as the backdrop to Dallas' most vibrant urban gathering space. In addition to being home to the Dallas Stars and Dallas Mavericks, American Airlines Center has played host to several prominent events including the 2007 NHL All-Star Game, NBA Finals, Big 12 Championships and the 2003 USFSA National Figure Skating Championships.

The Dallas Convention Center, which has more than 1,000,000 sq. ft., is the site for rhythmic and acrobatic gymnastics, trampoline and tumbling. The Dallas Convention Center offers a staggering 726,726 square feet of prime, contiguous exhibit space along with a 203,000-square-foot column-free exhibit hall, the largest in the U.S. Plus, the Dallas Convention Center offers even more great features, such as a 9,816-seat arena, a theater with a 1,750-person capacity and 96 meeting rooms.

The USA Gymnastics National Congress and Trade Show is the annual gathering of professional members that offers educational and business sessions, a large exhibitor’s hall and other business and educational opportunities.

USA records best Olympic gymnastics finish since 1984 with 10 medals

BEIJING, CHINA (August 27, 2008) At the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, the United States amassed with its greatest medal haul since the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. The medal tally of 10 – two gold, six silver and two bronze – is the most earned by the USA in gymnastics in a non-boycotted Olympic Games.

“We are very proud of our gymnasts’ accomplishments,” said Steve Penny, president of USA Gymnastics. “Our athletes were outstanding, not only on the field of play but also in how they represented both our sport and our country. The combination of team and individual medals is an indication of USA Gymnastics' commitment to remaining among the best gymnastics countries in the world.”

Here’s the medal breakdown by discipline and event.
Men Team – bronze medal
Horizontal bar – Jonathan Horton, silver medal
Women Team – silver medal
All-around – Nastia Liukin, gold medal; Shawn Johnson, silver medal
Uneven bars – Nastia Liukin, silver medal
Balance beam – Shawn Johnson, gold medal; Nastia Liukin, silver medal
Floor exercise – Shawn Johnson, silver medal; Nastia Liukin, bronze medal

In addition to the overall medal count, the U.S. gymnasts also established some noteworthy milestones.
 It is the first time the United States has won team medals at consecutive Olympic Games for both men and women. The women earned their second straight silver medal, and the men also were repeat medalists, this time taking home the bronze.
 The U.S. women won eight total medals (two gold, five silver and one bronze), topping China’s six (two gold and four bronze). Romania was third with two (one gold and one bronze).
 The women’s all-around set two USA firsts: Nastia Liukin of Parker, Texas, and Shawn Johnson of West Des Moines, Iowa, became the first U.S. women to go one-two in the all-around; and the first time the USA has won the all-around title for two consecutive Games.
 Liukin joins Mary Lou Retton (1984) and Carly Patterson (2004) as the only U.S. women to win an Olympic all-around title.
 Liukin tied the U.S. gymnastics record of five Olympic medals at one Olympics set by Mary Lou Retton, who earned one gold, two silver and two bronze, at the 1984 Olympic Games, and matched by Shannon Miller, who claimed two silver and three bronze at the 1992 Olympic Games. Liukin’s Olympic medal haul includes one gold (all-around); three silver (team, balance beam and uneven bars); and one bronze (floor exercise). Liukin also surpassed the four medals won by her father, Valeri, at the 1988 Olympic Games (two gold and two silver).
 Johnson is only the second U.S. gymnast to win an Olympic gold medal on the balance beam (Miller, 1996). Liukin finished second, making this the first time the USA has won two medals in this event at the same Games.
 Johnson earned four medals at the 2008 Olympic Games: gold on the balance beam, and silver in the team competition, all-around and floor exercise.
 Liukin garnered the most medals of any female gymnast at the 2008 Olympics with five. Johnson was second with four medals, followed by China’s Cheng Fei and Yang Yilin at three (one gold, two bronze).
 Jonathan Horton of Houston captured the silver medal on the horizontal bar.

“I am tied with her (Shannon) for world medals too,” said Liukin, who owns nine world medals. “I guess it is meant to be that we are tied. I think I won the most medals of any woman (in gymnastics in Beijing). That is something neat. I will remember this time for rest of life. I am glad I got to do it with my dad. The Olympics has been harder but better than any Worlds. Nine Olympic medals in our family is not too bad.”

Along with Johnson and Liukin, the members of the U.S. Olympic Team for women’s gymnastics are: Chellsie Memmel of West Allis, Wis./M&M Gymnastics; Samantha Peszek of Indianapolis, Ind./DeVeau’s; Alicia Sacramone of Winchester, Mass./Brestyan’s; and Bridget Sloan of Pittsboro, Ind./Sharp’s. Johnson trains at Chow’s Gymnastics, and Liukin’s gym is WOGA. The three replacement athletes are: Jana Bieger of Coconut Creek, Fla./Bieger International Gymnastics; Ivana Hong of Blue Springs, Mo./GAGE; and Corrie Lothrop of Gaithersburg, Md./Hill’s. Liang Qiao of Chow’s gymnastics was head coach, with Valeri Liukin of WOGA serving as assistant coach.

The members of the bronze-medal team are: Alexander Artemev of Highlands Ranch, Colo.; Raj Bhavsar of Houston; Joseph Hagerty of Rio Rancho, N.M.; Horton; Justin Spring of Burke, Va.; and Kevin Tan of Fremont, Calif. David Durante of Garwood, N.J., was the replacement athlete, and Paul and Morgan Hamm of Waukesha, Wis., withdrew from the team due to injuries. All nine men are members of Team Chevron. Kevin Mazeika of Houston Gymnastics Academy was the head coach, and Miles Avery of Ohio State University was the assistant coach.

Erin Blanchard of Lafayette, La., and Chris Estrada of Colorado Springs, Colo., were members of the U.S. Olympic Team for trampoline. Both train at the U.S. Olympic Training Center with Dmitri Poliaroush, who was the Olympic coach.

Women’s gymnastics
Team
The U.S. women went head-to-head with China in the team competition in one of the most dramatic and exciting team finals in history. When the chalk dust had settled, the USA earned its second consecutive Olympic team silver medal with 186.525 points. China won the gold medal with 188.900 points, and Romania claimed the bronze medal with 181.525 points.

“The fight was extremely close,” said Martha Karolyi, women’s national team coordinator. “We fought equal to equal. We were two very strong teams.”

“I feel proud of the USA and our team,” Johnson said. “We are proud of each other no matter what. I think that we represented USA very well.”

“My goal was to come out and know that at the end of the competition, I’d have no regrets,” Liukin said. “I definitely have no regrets. I’m happy with how everything went and to say that you have an Olympic medal is just amazing.”

The USA was paired with China in the same rotation and opened the team finals on vault. Johnson earned a 16.000 for her Yurchenko 2.5 vault, and Sacramone scored a 15.675 for her Rudi vault. Sloan performed a Yurchenko double and posted a 15.200. Russia, who began the competition on uneven bars, led the competition after one rotation with 46.950 points, followed closely by the USA in second with 46.875 points. China was third at 46.350.

Memmel, who only competed on one event in the team finals, was the first U.S. woman up on uneven bars and scored a 15.725 for her routine that included a jam to invert to a double front dismount. Johnson kept the momentum going with a 15.350. Liukin’s pirouette work in her difficult routine with a 7.7 start value earned a 16.900, the highest score of the day on any event. The USA’s aggregate bars score 47.975. China moved into the lead after posting a 49.625 on the uneven bars for a two-rotation score of 95.975. The USA was second at 94.850 and Russia dropped to third with a 91.850.

The USA posted a score of 47.250 on balance beam. Johnson posted a 16.175 for her routine that included a full-in dismount. Liukin earned a 15.975 and Sacramone scored a 15.100.

Heading into the final rotation, China led the USA, 143.100 to 142.100. Romania was third with 136.250 points.

Liukin led the USA on floor exercise with a 15.200, with Johnson scoring a 15.100 and Sacramone earning a 14.125 for a total of 44.425. China sealed its victory with a 45.800 on floor exercise to win its first-ever women’s Olympic team gold medal.

“I’m definitely happy with silver,” said Memmel, who injured her ankle during training before the qualification round. “It’s the Olympic Games and we have a silver medal. The Chinese were the better team today. We had a few mistakes. The only disappointment for me was that I couldn’t contribute more to the team.”

“Leaving Beijing with a silver medal is such an honor,” said Peszek. “To have a medal hanging around my neck from the Olympics is remarkable. We’re all so proud of everyone.”

“You have good days and bad days, and I just wish that today was a good day for me,” Sacramone said. “My teammates were amazing today, but I just wish that my performance was a little better.”

“It’s amazing and having any medal is remarkable,” Sloan said. “We gave it our hearts, but China was just having a really good day today.”

All-around
Liukin joins Retton (1984) and Carly Patterson (2004) as the only U.S. women’s gymnasts to win an Olympic all-around title. Johnson’s second place finish also gave the USA another first – finishing one-two in the all-around. Liukin finished with a score of 63.325, followed by Johnson with a 62.725 and China’s Yang Yilin, who earned the bronze with a 62.650.

“Just to be here at the Olympic Games is amazing,” Liukin said. “To stand on the podium and hear ‘Olympic champion’ next to my name was a dream come true. I knew it was a close fight and I knew I’d done all I could do.”

“It’s been a really long road and I’m just so proud to be here,” Johnson said. “I’m honored to be representing the USA. I had a great meet today and finishing on floor was probably my favorite moment because I knew I’d given it my all.”

Liukin is coached by her father, Valeri, who won four medals, including two gold, at the 1988 Olympic Games. Liukin trains at WOGA in Plano, Texas, where Patterson trained until winning her Olympic all-around title in 2004.

Because they finished 1-2 in the qualification round, Johnson and Liukin competed in the Olympic order (vault, uneven bars, balance beam and floor exercise) in the finals. Johnson scored a 15.875 for her Yurchenko 2.5 vault, and Liukin earned a 15.025 for her Yurchenko 1.5. After one rotation, Romania’s Steliana Nistor was first with a 15.975, followed by Johnson in second and Italy’s Vanessa Ferrari in third with a 15.600. Liukin was 10th.

Moving to the uneven bars where she has a 7.7 start value, Liukin posted a 16.650 for her routine that includes intricate pirouette work. Johnson stuck her layout double double dismount for a score of 15.275. Yang moved into first place after the second rotation with a score of 31.900 with Liukin in second with a 31.675 and Nistor in third with a 31.525. Johnson dropped to fifth with a 31.150.

Liukin opened her beam routine with a front aerial to flip flop layout and posted a 16.125 to take the lead with a score of 47.800 heading into the fourth and final rotation. With a score of 16.050 for her balance beam routine that includes full in dismount, Johnson moved into third place with a 47.200. Yang dropped to second with a 47.650.

Johnson and Liukin scored identical 15.525s on floor exercise in the final rotation to secure gold and silver. Yang, who scored a 15.000 on floor, fell one spot to third place.

Individual events
The U.S. women won five medals in three individual event finals. Liukin captured three medals, silver in the uneven bars and balance beam and a bronze in the floor exercise; and Johnson won the gold medal in the balance beam, as well as a silver medal in the floor exercise.

Vault. Sacramone scored a 15.750 on her first vault, a Rudi, and followed with a 15.325 for her Yurchenko double, averaging a score of 15.537. Korea’s Hong Un Jong won the gold medal with a 15.650. Germany’s Oksana Chusovitina won the silver medal with a 15.575 and China’s Cheng Fei claimed the bronze medal with a 15.562. Sacramone finished fourth.

“I’m disappointed that I didn’t at least place, but all the girls had higher start values that I did,” Sacramone said. “I went out there and finished my Olympic Games, and I did the best I could.”

Uneven bars. Liukin and China’s He Kexin both posted scores of 16.725, but He was awarded the gold medal over Liukin due to a tiebreaker based on deductions. Both women performed difficult routines, He’s punctuated with her intricate handwork and Liukin’s featuring her trademark pirouettes. China’s Yang earned the bronze medal with a score of 16.650.

“I don’t have any regrets in my training plan or in the routine that I performed today,” Liukin said. “Missing out on the gold medal today is a little hard to take, but when I look back at this week, I couldn’t be more proud of my accomplishments.”

Balance beam. Johnson and Liukin won the gold and silver medals, respectively, on the balance beam. Johnson ended her balance beam routine with a full-in dismount and scored a 16.225. Liukin was second at 16.025. China’s Cheng, the first competitor on balance beam, scored a 15.950, which held up for the bronze medal.

“It’s the Olympics and I just wanted to finish it off the best that I could,” Johnson said. “Beam is my favorite event and I’ve been working so hard on it at home. I just put everything toward the beam. To finally get the gold for my beam coach (Liwen Zhuang) and for me on my very last routine, it meant the world.”

Floor exercise. Johnson was the first to take the floor and scored a 15.500 for her routine that includes a tuck double double on her first pass. Liukin scored a 15.425 after ending her routine with a two-and-a-half twisting back. Romania’s Sandra Izbasa won the gold medal with a score of 15.650.

“I wasn’t sure how things were going to hold up today, but I didn’t really care about scores,” said Johnson. “I didn’t care about placements. I just wanted to go out and have a good time. Sitting there and watching seven other girls compete was the most nerve-wracking experience.”

“I felt so calm, and I had to get that adrenaline going,” Liukin said. “I think just because I know floor isn’t my best event, I wasn’t as nervous. I just felt that whatever happens, I’m just going to try my best.”

Men’s competition
Team
Despite last minute team changes, the U.S. Olympic Team for men’s gymnastics went out and showed their stuff, winning the team bronze medal with a total score of 275.850. China won the gold medal with 286.125 points with Japan taking second at 278.875 points.

“The whole way through, we focused on one event at a time, one routine at a time,” said Kevin Mazeika, head coach of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team for men’s gymnastics. “It’s just unbelievable considering everything we’ve been through. It’s been a roller coaster ride. I couldn’t be prouder of these guys, of all the coaches and this whole collective, collaborative effort.”

“I think the most important thing for us was to be on that podium, which we knew that we could do,” said Horton. “Bronze, silver, gold, it doesn’t matter. We’re excited because nobody thought we’d be close.”

The USA began the competition on still rings, posting a score of 46.375. Horton earned the team’s highest score with a 15.625, followed by Tan and Bhavsar with a 15.425 and a 15.325, respectively.

Horton again led the USA with a 16.200 on his stuck handspring double front vault. Bhavsar posted a 16.125 on his handspring double full vault with Spring earning a 15.900 on his Kasamatsu one-and-a-half for a total team score of 48.225.

On parallel bars, the USA earned a total of 47.050. Spring posted a 15.850 to top the USA’s scores, followed by Horton with a 15.625 and Bhavsar with a 15.575. The USA was in first place halfway through the competition with 141.650. China was second at 140.825 and France was third with 140.025 points.

With high-flying release moves and chants of “USA” from the crowd, the U.S. men posted a score of 46.925 on horizontal bar. Horton and Spring earned a 15.700 and a 15.675, respectively, with each sticking his dismount, a laid-out triple double for Horton and a triple back for Spring. Hagerty earned a 15.550.

With a score of 49.325 on vault, China moved into the lead after the fourth rotation with a four-event score of 190.150. The USA dropped to second with 188.575 points and Japan was third with a 185.200.

Horton led the USA on floor exercise with a score of 15.575 after nailing all of his tumbling passes, including his tucked full in dismount. Spring posted a 15.200 for his routine that included a triple full dismount. Hagerty rounded out the USA’s scoring with a 14.625. The team earned a total of 45.400 on floor exercise.

Heading into the sixth and final rotation, China was in the lead with 239.175 points, followed by the USA with a 233.975 and Japan with a 232.275. Artemev’s full Kehr into his flare sequence on the pommel horse had the crowd cheering, and he earned the USA’s highest score on that event with a 15.350. Bhavsar posted a 13.750 and Tan earned a 12.775. The USA’s total pommel horse score was 41.875.

“It’s been an up-and-down roller coaster,” Artemev said. “For me personally, I usually get excited about things too quickly and then if I have a let down, I get pretty angry about it. So I taught myself not to handle situations like that, to take it a little bit more professionally. I learned that from Dave with the way he handled things (being an alternate). This is a nine-man team. Paul, Morgan and Dave, this is for them, too.”

“It’s a dream come true, and dreams can come true,” said Bhavsar. “I’m a firm believer that in life, when you have nothing left to give, you have to dig down deep and find it within you to keep going. I hope that my message carries into the spirit of other people that if I can do it, so can you.”

“I’d characterize this medal as a nine-man team,” said Hagerty. “This was for our country. This was for Dave, Paul and Morgan. This is for everybody, our friends and family.”

“I think the medal was somewhat unexpected, but we knew that we had this potential,” said Spring. “I know a lot of people doubted that we would make the second day (team finals), but this team never doubted ourselves. We had two last-minute replacements and anything you threw at this team, we rolled with it with smiles on our faces.”

“We pulled together,” said Tan. “We had that support from everyone. We went out there and showed what we could do today. My day didn’t go as well as I’d hoped, but I was focused, I stayed on and I fought as hard as I could. I believe I left it all out there, heart and soul.”

All-around
Horton and Artemev finished ninth and 12th, respectively, in the men’s all-around at the 2008 Olympic Games. China’s Yang Wei won the all-around title with a score of 94.575. Japan’s Kohei Uchimura earned the silver medal with a 91.975 and France’s Benoit Caranobe claimed the bronze medal with a 91.925. Horton’s score of 91.575 was just four-tenths of a point shy from the silver-medal-winning score. Artemev posted a 90.675.

“There were a lot of incredible competitors out there who had a great meet,” Horton said. “Hopefully with some more time and experience in this sport, I’ll learn how to put together two incredible meets instead of just one (men’s team final). Today I was really calm and just stayed relaxed in my gymnastics. I definitely didn’t have that fired-up feeling that I had with the team, but I’m really happy with how I did. I don’t have any regrets with my competition today.”

“I had a bobble on floor that lowered my B score (execution score), but other than that, it was pretty good,” Artemev said about his performance. “I didn’t really hold back on anything. (Pommel) horse is getting better every day, so hopefully in finals, it’s even better.”

Artemev and Horton opened the competition on still rings and pommel horse, respectively, and posted scores of 14.275 and 13.675.

In the second rotation, Artemev jumped to 12th after scoring a 15.975 on his Yurchenko 2.5 vault. On still rings, Horton posted a 15.575 for his routine that included a full twisting, double layout dismount and moved into 19th place.

Artemev scored a 15.200 on parallel bars and remained in 12th place with 45.450 points. Horton jumped five spots to 14th with 45.350 points after earning a 16.100 on his handspring double front vault.

Korea’s Yang Tae Young led the field halfway through the competition with 47.325 points, followed by Yang in second and Caranobe in third with a 47.150 and a 46.650, respectively.

After four rotations, Horton was 12th with a 60.625 after scoring a 15.275 on parallel bars. Artemev stuck his stretched double double dismount on horizontal bar and scored a 15.075 to move into 14th place at 60.525.

In the fifth rotation, Horton earned a 15.350 on horizontal bar for a score of 75.975, and Artemev posted a 14.625 on floor exercise for a score of 75.150. Horton ended the competition on floor exercise, scoring a 15.600. Artemev’s crowd-pleasing pommel horse routine that includes a full Kehr to flair sequence earned a 15.525.

Individual events
Horton won the silver medal on the horizontal bar. Artemev competed in the pommel horse finals, and Tan was the first reserve athlete for the still rings finals, with Hagerty the third reserve gymnast for high bar.

In the horizontal bar finals, Horton took a chance and performed a new, more difficult routine that he had never completed, even in practice. His routine had a 6.9 start value, up five-tenths of a point from his routine in the team finals. He earned a score of 16.175, just 0.025 points behind the 16.200 of gold-medal-winner Zou Kai of China. Germany’s Fabian Hambuechen, the 2007 horizontal bar world champion, finished third with a score of 15.875.

“That’s the first time I’ve ever done that routine,” said Horton. “I’m not going to sit here and say it’s luck because I’ve done every one of those skills millions of times. But it was maybe a little bit of luck to put it together in the same routine at once and do it as well as I did. Sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good, right? I hit the floor and looked at Mark (Williams) and said, ‘Can you believe that just happened?’ Instantly, I knew I was going to medal with that routine. I kind of wish I had stuck my landing because I’d be gold.”

On pommel horse, Artemev scored a 14.975 after falling toward the end of his routine. China’s Xiao Qin won the gold medal with a 15.875. Croatia’s Filip Ude and Great Britain’s Louis Smith both posted scores of 15.725, but Ude claimed the silver medal through a tiebreaker, giving Smith the bronze.

“I wish I walked away with a medal (on pommel horse), but I’m happy that the team got a medal and that’s the most important thing to me,” said Artemev. “With my set, I laid out a hard routine and I wasn’t ready.”

The other individual event gold medalists were: China’s Li Xiaopeng , parallel bars; China’s Chen Yibing, still rings; Poland’s Leszek Blanik, vault; and China’s Zou Kai, floor exercise.

Trampoline

Blanchard finished 13th for the women and Chris Estrada placed 15th for the men in the trampoline at the 2008 Olympic Games, also held at the National Indoor Stadium. In men’s trampoline, China’s Lu Chunlong won the gold medal with a score of 41.00. Canada’s Jason Burnett earned the silver medal with a 40.70, and China’s Dong Dong claimed the bronze medal with a 40.60. For the women, China’s He Wenna won the gold medal with a score of 37.80, followed by Canada’s Karen Cockburn in second with a 37.00 and Uzbekistan’s Ekaterina Khilko in third with a 36.90.

Blanchard earned a total score of 60.90 after posting a 27.10 for her compulsory routine and a 33.80 for her optional routine.

“I was happy that I made it and that I did both of my routines,” Blanchard said. “It wasn’t good, but I did it and stayed on my feet. I did all ten skills and did the best I could. I was really, really nervous because I wasn’t expecting the stands to be filled like this. It was a lot crazier than I thought it would be.”

Estrada’s 28.50 for his compulsory routine and his 37.40 for his optional routine earned a total of 65.90.

“I did okay, but I could have done better,” Estrada said. “I did the best I could today, so I’m happy with that. Being in front of the crowd was amazing because it was a new experience for me (to jump in front of a large audience). I want to thank my coaches for getting me this far.”

This was the first Olympic Games for both Blanchard and Estrada. The USA competed in the Olympic Games in women’s trampoline for the third straight Olympiad and in men’s trampoline for the first time.

Based in Indianapolis, USA Gymnastics is the national governing body for gymnastics in the United States. Its mission is to encourage participation and the pursuit of excellence in the sport. Its disciplines include men's and women's artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, trampoline and tumbling, and acrobatic gymnastics. For more information, log on to www.usa-gymnastics.org.

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2008 Olympic Games
National Indoor Stadium
Beijing, China
Aug. 9-19, 2008

Women’s gymnastics
Team
1. China, 188.900
2. USA, 186.525
3. Romania, 181.525
4. Russia, 180.625
5. Japan, 176.700
6. Australia, 176.525
7. France, 175.275
8. Brazil, 174.875

All-around
1. Nastia Liukin, USA, 63.325
2. Shawn Johnson, USA, 62.725
3. Yang Yilin, China, 62.650
4. Ksenia Semenova, Russia, 61.925
5. Steliana Nistor, Romania, 61.050
6. Jiang Yuyuan, China, 60.900
7. Anna Pavlova, Russia, 60.825
8. Sandra Izbasa, Romania, 60.750
9. Oksana Chusovitina, Germany, 60.125
10. Jade Barbosa, Brazil, 59.550
11. Vanessa Ferrari, Italy, 59.450
12. Becky Downie, Great Britain, 59.450
13. Georgia Bonora, Australia, 58.950
14. Lia Parolari, Italy, 58.925
15. Shona Morgan, Australia, 58.800
16. Elyse Hopfner-Hibbs, Canada, 58.375
17. Koko Tsurumi, Japan, 58.100
18. Ariella Kaslin, Switzerland, 58.000
19. Marine Petit, France, 57.975
20. Kyoko Oshima, Japan, 57.625
21. Kristyna Palesova, Czech Republic, 56.975
22. Ana Silva, Brazil, 56.875
23. Laetitia Dugain, France, 56.775
24. Gaelle Mys, Belgium, 53.950

Vault
1. Hong Un Jong, North Korea, 15.650
2. Oksana Chusovitina, Germany, 15.575
3. Cheng Fei, China, 15.562
4. Alicia Sacramone, USA, 15.537
5. Ariella Kaslin, Switzerland, 15.050
6. Carlotta Giovannini, Italy, 14.550
7. Jade Barbosa, Brazil, 14.487
8. Anna Pavlova, Russia, 7.812

Uneven bars
1. He Kexin, China, 16.725
2. Nastia Liukin, USA, 16.725
3. Yang Yilin, China, 16.650
4. Beth Tweddle, Great Britain, 16.625
5. Anastasiia Koval, Ukraine, 16.375
6. Ksenia Semenova, Russia, 16.325
7. Steliana Nistor, Romania, 15.575
8. Dariya Zgoba, Ukraine, 14.875

Balance beam
1. Shawn Johnson, USA, 16.225
2. Nastia Liukin, USA, 16.025
3. Cheng Fei, China, 15.950
4. Anna Pavlova, Russia, 15.900
5. Gabriela Dragoi, Romania, 15.625
6. Li Shanshan, China, 15.300
7. Ksenia Afanasyeva, Russia, 14.825
8. Koko Tsurumi, Japan, 14.450

Floor exercise
1. Sandra Izbasa, Romania, 15.650
2. Shawn Johnson, USA, 15.500
3. Nastia Liukin, USA, 15.425
4. Jiang Yuyuan, China, 15.350
5. Ekaterina Kramarenko, Russia, 15.025
6. Daiane Santos, Brazil, 14.975
7. Cheng Fei, China, 14.550
8. Anna Pavlova, Russia, 14.125

Men’s gymnastics
Team
1. China, 286.125
2. Japan, 278.875
3. USA, 275.800
4. Germany, 274.600
5. South Korea, 274.375
6. Russia, 274.300
7. Romania, 274.175
8. France, 272.875

All-around
1. Yang Wei, China, 94.575
2. Kohei Uchimura, Japan, 91.975
3. Benoit Caranobe, France, 91.925
4. Hiroyuki Tomita, Japan, 91.750
5. Sergey Khorokhordin, Russia, 91.700
6. Maxim Devyatovskiy, Russia, 91.700
7. Fabian Hambuechen, Germany, 91.675
8. Yang Taeyoung, Korea, 91.600
9. Jonathan Horton, USA, 91.575
10. Rafael Martinez, Spain, 91.500
11. Kim Daeeun, Korea, 90.775
12. Alexander Artemev, USA, 90.675
13. Philipp Boy, Germany, 90.675
14. Luis Rivera, Puerto Rico, 90.175
15. Adam Wong, Canada, 89.800
16. Anton Fokin, Uzbekistan, 89.750
17. Nathan Gafuik, Canada, 89.625
18. Flavius Koczi, Romania, 89.575
19. Enrico Pozzo, Italy, 89.375
20. Daniel Keatings, Great Britain, 89.000
21. Thomas Bouhail, France, 87.000
22. Luis Fuentes Bustamante, Venezuela, 86.300
23. Dmitry Savitski, Belarus, 82.175
24. Chen Yibing, China, 74.225

Floor exercise
1. Zou Kai, China, 16.050
2. Gervasio Deferr, Spain, 15.775
3. Anton Golotsutskov, Russia, 15.725
4. Fabian Hambuechen, Germany, 15.650
5. Kohei Uchimura, Japan, 15.575
6. Diego Hypolito, Brazil, 15.200
7. Marian Dragulescu, Romania, 14.850
8. Alexandr Shatilov, Israel, 14.125

Pommel horse
1. Xiao Qin, China, 15.875
2. Filip Ude, Croatia, 15.725
3. Louis Smith, Great Britain, 15.725
4. Yang Wei, China, 15.450
5. Hiroyuki Tomita, Japan, 15.375
6. Kim Jihoon, Korea, 15.175
7. Alexander Artemev, USA, 14.975
8. Fuentes Bustamonte Luis, Venezuela, 14.650

Still rings
1. Chen Yibing, China, 16.600
2. Yang Wei, China, 16.425
3. Oleksandr Vorobiov, Ukraine, 16.325
4. Andrea Coppolino, Italy, 16.225
5. Danny Pinheiro Rodrigues, France, 16.225
6. Matteo Morandi, Italy, 16.200
7. Robert Stanescu, Romania, 15.825
8. Jordan Jovtchev, Bulgaria, 15.525

Vault
1. Leszek Blanik, Poland, 16.537
2. Thomas Bouhail, France, 16.537
3. Anton Golotsutskov, Russia, 16.475
4. Marian Dragulescu, Romania, 16.225
5. Benoit Caranobe, France, 16.062
6. Dmitry Kasperovich, Belarus, 16.050
7. Flavius Koczi, Romania, 15.925
8. Isaac Botella, Spain, 15.737

Parallel bars
1. Li Xiaopeng, China, 16.450
2. Yoo Wonchul, Korea, 16.250
3. Anton Fokin, Uzbekistan, 16.200
4. Fabian Hambuechen, Germany, 15.975
5. Mitja Petkovsek, Slovenia, 15.725
6. Huang Xu, China, 15.700
7. Yang Taeyoung, Korea, 15.650
8. Nikolay Kryukov, Russia, 15.150

Horizontal bar
1. Zou Kai, China, 16.200
2. Jonathan Horton, USA, 16.175
3. Fabian Hambuechen, Germany, 15.875
4. Igor Cassina, Italy, 15.675
5. Takuya Nakase, Japan, 15.450
6. Hiroyuki Tomita, Japan, 15.225
7. Epke Zonderland, Netherlands, 15.000
8. Yann Cucherat, France, 14.825


Trampoline
Men
1. Lu Chunlong, China, 41.00
2. Jason Burnett, Canada, 40.70
3. Dong Dong, China, 40.60
4. Yuriy Nikitin, Ukraine, 39.80
4. Tetsuya Sotomura, Japan, 39.80
6. Dmitry Ushakov, Russia, 38.80
7. Alexander Rusakov, Russia, 38.50
8. Mikalai Kazak, Belarus, 38.10
From preliminary round
15. Chris Estrada , USA, 65.90

Women
1. He Wenna, China, 37.80
2. Karen Cockburn, Canada, 370
3. Ekaterina Khilko, Uzbekistan, 36.90
4. Olena Movchan, Ukraine, 36.60
5. Irina Karavaeva, Russia, 36.20
6. Luba Golovina, Georgia, 36.10
7. Rosannagh Maclennan, Canada, 35.50
8. Anna Dogonadze, Germany, 18.90
From preliminary round
13. Erin Blanchard, USA, 60.90

Bhavsar Added to U.S. Olympic Gymnastics Team

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA (July 28, 2008) Raj Bhavsar of Houston will replace Paul Hamm, who withdrew from the team earlier today, on the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team for men’s gymnastics, pending approval by the U.S. Olympic Committee. The Men’s Selection Committee reached the decision today.

“All of our alternates have been working hard and are ready to support the men’s team, if called upon. The Men’s Selection Committee has named Raj to the team based on the evaluation of various team scenarios,” said Dennis McIntyre, senior director for men’s program at USA Gymnastics. “Given the current team make-up, we believe Raj is best suited to help the U.S. men’s team in its pursuit of a team medal.”

“This is a tremendous honor and the first feeling that comes to mind is that dreams can come true,” said Bhavsar, 27, who was an alternate on the 2004 Olympic Team. “You never know when it will happen, but with enough positive intention and belief, it can. I am ready, willing and able to take on this great opportunity. Unfortunately, this comes at the expense of a great athlete, Paul Hamm. My heart goes out to him. He did an admirable thing, and he will always be a hero in my eyes. I also want to recognize the other two alternates, who are an important part of the soul and spirit of this team.”

Bhavsar finished second on parallel bars and third in the all-around, still rings and vault in the weighted, combined rankings from the 2008 Visa Championships and the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Gymnastics. At the 2008 Visa Championships, he tied for third on vault and still rings, as well as placed fifth in the all-around. Bhavsar finished second in the all-around at the 2008 Winter Cup Challenge. He was a member of the 2001 U.S. World Championships Team that earned an unprecedented silver medal, and he helped United States defend that medal at the 2003 World Championships.

“Raj will be a strong asset to this team,” said Steve Penny, president of USA Gymnastics. “Not only will he contribute through his gymnastics ability, but also his leadership and emotional energy will be important to our team effort. Along with all of his teammates, including David Durante and Alex Artemev, we are confident that the U.S. team will be a medal contender in Beijing.”

In addition to Bhavsar, the U.S. Olympic Team for men’s gymnastics includes: Joseph Hagerty of Rio Rancho, N.M./Team Chevron; Morgan Hamm of Waukesha, Wis./Team Chevron; Jonathan Horton of Houston/Team Chevron; Justin Spring of Burke, Va./Team Chevron; and Kevin Tan of Fremont, Calif./Team Chevron. The replacement athletes are Alexander Artemev of Morrison, Colo./Team Chevron; and David Durante of Garwood, N.J./Team Chevron. Hamm resigned from the team earlier today because he did not believe he would be able to contribute to the team’s efforts due to physical limitations.

Hamm Withdraws from U.S. Olympic Gymnastics Team

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA (July 28, 2008) Paul Hamm of Waukesha, Wis., today officially notified USA Gymnastics and the U.S. Olympic Committee that he was resigning from the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team for men’s gymnastics.

“I have put my heart and soul into my comeback and done everything I could to get ready in time to compete in Beijing,” said Hamm, who won the all-around title at the 2004 Olympic Games and is recovering from a broken hand. “After returning home from the preparation camp, I had a few physical setbacks, and it became clear to me that my physical preparations would not be sufficient to properly represent the United States and contribute to the team’s efforts to win a medal. I recently strained my rotator cuff and have been unable to perform all of my skills. I am very grateful to have been given the opportunity to make a comeback. At this point in time, the success of the team and fairness to the team, and the alternates, is most important. While I am very disappointed, I feel I can wait no longer to make this decision.”

Hamm began his return to competitive gymnastics in August 2007 after a nearly three-year layoff after the 2004 Games to complete his education. In 2008, he won the all-around title at the Winter Cup Challenge, Tyson American Cup and Pacific Rim Championships presented by Gillette Venus. Hamm broke his fourth metacarpal on May 22 during the Visa Championships and successfully petitioned to the Olympic Team in June. He demonstrated his competitive readiness on July 19 to the men’s selection committee, and the men’s preparation camp concluded on July 22.

“We admire Paul for making this difficult decision,” said Steve Penny, president of USA Gymnastics. “Paul’s comeback this year has been phenomenal, made even more impressive following the injury to his hand. He has raised the level of determination among the entire team to put forth a medal winning effort in China. We respect his decision at this time, which is being made to serve the best interests of all of the athletes involved.

Gymnastics Finalizes 2008 U.S. Olympic Team

HUNTSVILLE, TEXAS (July 20, 2008) USA Gymnastics yesterday announced the six women and three replacement athletes it will nominate to the U.S. Olympic Committee to comprise the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team for women’s gymnastics. Shawn Johnson of West Des Moines, Iowa, and Nastia Liukin of Parker, Texas, were named to the team at the conclusion of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials on June 19-22 in Philadelphia, and the balance of the team was named tonight following the final selection camp at the Women’s National Team Training Center in Huntsville, Texas.

Joining Johnson and Liukin on the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team for women’s gymnastics (pending USOC approval) are:

Chellsie Memmel, West Allis, Wis./M&M Gymnastics
Samantha Peszek, Indianapolis, Ind./DeVeau’s
Alicia Sacramone, Winchester, Mass./Brestyan’s
Bridget Sloan, Pittsboro, Ind./Sharp’s

The three replacement athletes are:

Jana Bieger, Coconut Creek, Fla./Bieger International Gymnastics
Ivana Hong, Blue Springs, Mo./GAGE
Corrie Lothrop, Gaithersburg, Md./Hill’s

“The U.S. Team has been assembled to give us our best chance for success in Beijing,” said Steve Penny, president of USA Gymnastics. “This group of athletes has worked hard to position USA Gymnastics as a strong contender for medals.”

Houston's Horton Nominated to 2008 U.S. Olympic Team

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVAINA (June 22, 2008) Jonathan Horton of Houston and 2004 Olympic all-around champion Paul Hamm of Waukesha, Wisconsin were nominated to the 2008 U.S. Olympic Men’s Gymnastics Team following the conclusion of the yesterday's men’s competition at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Gymnastics, held at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia. The balance of the squad will be nominated to the U.S. Olympic Team toDAY, pending approval from the U.S. Olympic Committee. The final day of the women’s competition at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Gymnastics is today (Sunday) at 6 p.m. ET.

“I’ve worked my whole life for this, to make the Olympic Team,” said Horton, who competes for Team Chevron. “All of these athletes have pushed me to where I’m at today. I was just having fun out there today. I’m more confident with my gymnastics then I’ve ever been before.”

Horton finished first in the weighted, combined all-around rankings from the Visa Championships and U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Gymnastics. Hamm broke the fourth metacarpal in his right hand on the first day of competition at the 2008 Visa Championships, May 22-24 in Houston, and filed a petition to the Olympic Team, which was accepted.

“I have a lot of work to do to get healthy and show the committee I’m ready,” said Hamm, who competes for Team Chevron.

The five-man men’s selection committee named both Horton and Hamm to the team after no athlete met the minimum requirements for automatic qualification, as outlined in the selection procedures. To be automatically named to the team, an athlete needed to finish in the top two in the combined, weighted all-around rankings from the two selection events, as well as place in the top three of six events using the combined results.

“We will pick the team with the best potential for success based on how they have performed,” said Dennis McIntyre, senior men’s program director for USA Gymnastics. “No one met the automatic selection criteria. The selection committee met in advance and we had a game plan for what we would look for and consider in the event no one automatically qualified. We will meet tonight and tomorrow to review the results, look at scores, look at what each can contribute to the team and run through all of the scenarios to see what combination of men will give us the best team.”

Horton earned 90.750 points in the overall Olympic selection rankings, followed by Joseph Hagerty of Rio Rancho, N.M./Team Chevron, in second with 89.940 points and Raj Bhavsar of Houston/Team Chevron in third at 89.860.

“There was nothing more I could have given or done,” Bhavsar said. “I turned my life around almost a year ago and said I am going to do this.”

“I did all I could out there,” Hagerty said. “It is all up to the committee right now. Whoever they put on it, this team is going to do a fantastic job.”

Horton finished first in tonight’s all-around competition with a score of 91.650. David Durante of Garwood, N.J./Team Chevron, was second with a 90.950 and Bhavsar was third with a 90.200.

After four rotations, Hagerty was leading the weighted all-around standings with a score of 81.660, followed by Bhavsar with an 81.235 and Horton with an 81.210. In the fifth rotation, Horton posted a 16.100 for his handspring double front vault, and moved into first place in the weighted rankings with an 86.055. Hagerty’s 13.500 on pommel horse dropped him to second with 85.710 points, and Bhavsar was third with an 85.435.

The high scores of the day were: Sean Golden of Camden, N.J., on floor exercise, 15.700, and vault, 16.400; Durante on pommel horse, 15.050; Kevin Tan of Fremont, Calif., on still rings, 16.550; Raj Bhavsar on parallel bars, 15.700; and Morgan Hamm on horizontal bars, 15.500.

Tickets are still available for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Gymnastics, and may be purchased online at ComcastTIX.com, by phone at 1-800-298-4200, or at the Wachovia Center Box Office. Visa is the only card accepted for the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Gymnastics.

Past sites for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials for gymnastics are: 2004, Anaheim, Calif.; 1996 and 2000, Boston; 1992, Baltimore, Md.; 1988, Salt Lake City, Utah; and 1980 and 1984, Jacksonville, Fla.

The U.S. Olympic Team Trials for all sports is a collaborative, three-way partnership between the U.S. Olympic Committee, the national governing bodies and the local organizing committees.

US Gymnastics Olympic Trials-Day 1 Results

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA (June 20, 2008)This document includes the results from the first night of the men’s competition at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials Gymnastics (listed first), as well as the current rankings for the men based on the Olympic selection formula that includes combined results from the 2008 Visa Championships and U.S. Olympic Team Trials. They are being held at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia (Texas gymnasts are in red).

Day one of men’s competition

All-Around
1. Alexander Artemev, Lakewood, Colo., 90.650
2. Jonathan Horton, Houston, Texas, 90.550
3. Raj Bhavsar, Houston, Texas, 90.500
4. Joseph Hagerty, Rio Rancho, N.M., 90.350
5. David Durante, Garwood, N.J., 88.800
6. Guillermo Alvarez, Denver, Colo., 88.350
7. Sean Townsend, Houston, Texas, 88.050
8. Justin Spring, Burke, Va., 77.050
9. Tim McNeill, Falls Church, Va., 73.700
10. Morgan Hamm, Waukesha, Wis., 60.850
11. Kevin Tan, Fremont, Calif., 60.650
12. Yewki Tomita, Tucson, Ariz., 55.900
13. Sean Golden, Camden, N.J., 46.750

Floor exercise
1. Joseph Hagerty, Rio Rancho, N.M., 15.400
2. Justin Spring, Burke, Va., 15.200
3. Sean Golden, Camden, N.J., 15.000
3. Jonathan Horton, Houston, Texas, 15.000
5. Sean Townsend, Houston, Texas, 14.950
5. Guillermo Alvarez, Denver, Colo., 14.950
7. Raj Bhavsar, Houston, Texas, 14.900
8. David Durante, Garwood, N.J., 14.750
8. Morgan Hamm, Waukesha, Wis., 14.750
10. Alexander Artemev, Lakewood, Colo., 14.550
11. Tim McNeill, Falls Church, Va., 14.050
12. Yewki Tomita, Tucson, Ariz., 12.700

Pommel horse
1. Alexander Artemev, Lakewood, Colo., 15.650
2. Morgan Hamm, Waukesha, Wis., 14.900
3. Guillermo Alvarez, Denver, Colo., 14.500
4. Raj Bhavsar, Houston, Texas, 14.400
5. Joseph Hagerty, Rio Rancho, N.M., 14.300
6. Tim McNeill, Falls Church, Va., 14.050
7. Yewki Tomita, Tucson, Ariz., 13.950
8. Kevin Tan, Fremont, Calif., 13.900
9. David Durante, Garwood, N.J., 13.800
10. Jonathan Horton, Houston, Texas, 13.750
11. Sean Townsend, Houston, Texas, 13.450

Still rings
1. Kevin Tan, Fremont, Calif., 16.550
2. Jonathan Horton, Houston, Texas, 15.800
3. Raj Bhavsar, Houston, Texas, 15.600
4. Sean Golden, Camden, N.J., 15.550
5. David Durante, Garwood, N.J., 15.400
6. Tim McNeill, Falls Church, Va., 14.950
7. Justin Spring, Burke, Va., 14.700
8. Guillermo Alvarez, Denver, Colo., 14.650
9. Alexander Artemev, Lakewood, Colo., 14.550
10. Sean Townsend, Houston, Texas, 14.400
11. Joseph Hagerty, Rio Rancho, N.M., 14.000

Vault
1. Sean Golden, Camden, N.J., 16.200
2. Justin Spring, Burke, Va., 16.050
3. Raj Bhavsar, Houston, Texas, 16.000
3. Morgan Hamm, Waukesha, Wis., 16.000
5. Alexander Artemev, Lakewood, Colo., 15.950
5. Sean Townsend, Houston, Texas, 15.950
7. Joseph Hagerty, Rio Rancho, N.M., 15.700
8. Guillermo Alvarez, Denver, Colo., 15.650
9. David Durante, Garwood, N.J., 15.600
9. Jonathan Horton, Houston, Texas, 15.600
11. Tim McNeill, Falls Church, Va., 15.400

Parallel bars
1. Justin Spring, Burke, Va., 15.700
2. Raj Bhavsar, Houston, Texas, 15.600
3. David Durante, Garwood, N.J., 15.500
4. Joseph Hagerty, Rio Rancho, N.M., 15.400
5. Alexander Artemev, Lakewood, Colo., 15.350
6. Tim McNeill, Falls Church, Va., 15.250
7. Sean Townsend, Houston, Texas, 15.200
7. Jonathan Horton, Houston, Texas, 15.200
9. Kevin Tan, Fremont, Calif., 15.150
10. Guillermo Alvarez, Denver, Colo., 14.650
11. Yewki Tomita, Tucson, Ariz., 14.400

Horizontal bar
1. Joseph Hagerty, Rio Rancho, N.M., 15.550
2. Justin Spring, Burke, Va., 15.400
3. Morgan Hamm, Waukesha, Wis., 15.200
3. Jonathan Horton, Houston, Texas, 15.200
5. Kevin Tan, Fremont, Calif., 15.050
6. Yewki Tomita, Tucson, Ariz., 14.850
7. Alexander Artemev, Lakewood, Colo., 14.600
8. Sean Townsend, Houston, Texas, 14.100
9. Raj Bhavsar, Houston, Texas, 14.000
10. Guillermo Alvarez, Denver, Colo., 13.950
11. David Durante, Garwood, N.J., 13.750

Olympic selection ranking that combines the results from both days of the 2008 Visa Championships and the first night of the U.S. Olympic Team Trials (the second night will also be added in)

All-Around
1. Jonathan Horton, Houston, Texas, 63.255
2. Joseph Hagerty, Rio Rancho, N.M., 63.165
3. Alexander Artemev, Lakewood, Colo., 62.825
4. Raj Bhavsar, Houston, Texas, 62.800
5. David Durante, Garwood, N.J., 62.430
6. Guillermo Alvarez, Denver, Colo., 62.095

Floor exercise
1. Joseph Hagerty, Rio Rancho, N.M., 10.740
2. Morgan Hamm, Waukesha, Wis., 10.695
3. Jonathan Horton, Houston, Texas, 10.660
4. Guillermo Alvarez, Denver, Colo., 10.495
5. Sean Golden, Camden, N.J., 10.460
6. Raj Bhavsar, Houston, Texas, 10.240
7. David Durante, Garwood, N.J., 10.225
8. Tim McNeill, Falls Church, Va., 10.075
9. Alexander Artemev, Lakewood, Colo., 10.055

Pommel horse
1. Alexander Artemev, Lakewood, Colo., 10.525
2. Yewki Tomita, Tucson, Ariz., 10.215
3. Guillermo Alvarez, Denver, Colo., 10.200
4. Tim McNeill, Falls Church, Va., 10.195
5. Morgan Hamm, Waukesha, Wis., 10.150
6. Kevin Tan, Fremont, Calif., 9.960
7. Joseph Hagerty, Rio Rancho, N.M., 9.930
8. Raj Bhavsar, Houston, Texas, 9.880
9. David Durante, Garwood, N.J., 9.650
10. Jonathan Horton, Houston, Texas, 9.615

Still rings
1. Kevin Tan, Fremont, Calif., 11.635
2. Jonathan Horton, Houston, Texas, 11.110
3. Raj Bhavsar, Houston, Texas, 10.900
4. Sean Golden, Camden, N.J., 10.885
5. David Durante, Garwood, N.J., 10.740
6. Tim McNeill, Falls Church, Va., 10.335
7. Justin Spring, Burke, Va., 10.320
8. Guillermo Alvarez, Denver, Colo., 10.315
9. Alexander Artemev, Lakewood, Colo., 10.125
10. Joseph Hagerty, Rio Rancho, N.M., 9.870

Vault
1. Sean Golden, Camden, N.J., 11.330
2. Raj Bhavsar, Houston, Texas, 11.220
2. Morgan Hamm, Waukesha, Wis., 11.220
4. Justin Spring, Burke, Va., 11.205
5. Alexander Artemev, Lakewood, Colo., 11.175
6. Jonathan Horton, Houston, Texas, 11.090
7. Joseph Hagerty, Rio Rancho, N.M., 11.060
8. Guillermo Alvarez, Denver, Colo., 10.895
9. David Durante, Garwood, N.J., 10.880
10. Tim McNeill, Falls Church, Va., 10.790

Parallel bars
1. Justin Spring, Burke, Va., 10.890
2. David Durante, Garwood, N.J., 10.770
3. Alexander Artemev, Lakewood, Colo., 10.735
4. Raj Bhavsar, Houston, Texas, 10.730
5. Joseph Hagerty, Rio Rancho, N.M., 10.700
6. Kevin Tan, Fremont, Calif., 10.655
7. Jonathan Horton, Houston, Texas, 10.620
8. Tim McNeill, Falls Church, Va., 10.375
9. Guillermo Alvarez, Denver, Colo., 10.325
10. Yewki Tomita, Tucson, Ariz., 10.020

Horizontal bar
1. Joseph Hagerty, Rio Rancho, N.M., 10.865
2. Morgan Hamm, Waukesha, Wis., 10.580
3. Justin Spring, Burke, Va., 10.360
4. Alexander Artemev, Lakewood, Colo., 10.210
5. David Durante, Garwood, N.J., 10.165
6. Jonathan Horton, Houston, Texas, 10.160
7. Kevin Tan, Fremont, Calif., 9.975
8. Guillermo Alvarez, Denver, Colo., 9.865
9. Raj Bhavsar, Houston, Texas, 9.830
10. Yewki Tomita, Tucson, Ariz., 9.825

Six Texas Gymnasts Qualify for Olympic Trials

By Robert H. Kelly
Copyright 2008 TexSport Publications

HOUSTON, TEXAS (June 9, 2008) Six Texas gymnasts were recently selected to compete at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Gymnastics Team Trials scheduled for June 19-22 in Philadelphia.

In the women's division, Alaina Johnson of Tyler (Texas East), Nastia Liukin of Parker, (WOGA), Chelsea Davis of Lakeway (Texas Dreams) will join men's selections Raj Bhavsar, Jonathan Horton, and Sean Townsend, all from Houston representing Team Chevron at the trials.

Johnson, who is the 2007 all-around world champion, earned a combined score of 127.500 to win the VISA all-around championship. Liukin, the 2005-06 U.S. all-around champion, finished second with a 126.500.

“I was most happy about floor today,” Johnson said. “It’s a new routine and I didn’t feel like it was mine yet, but after today, I feel like I own it, and it fits me.”

Johnson won floor exercise with a combined score of 32.250. Liukin claimed two individual event titles: uneven bars with a score of 34.150 and balance beam with a 32.450. Sacramone, who has three world vault medals to her credit, won vault with a score of 30.700 for her fourth straight U.S. vault crown.

Wang Wins All-Round Title at Visa Championships

HOUSTON, TEXAS (May 24, 2008) Lisa Wang of Buffalo Grove, Ill., won her third straight U.S. all-around title in rhythmic gymnastics at the 2008 Visa Championships at Reliant Park in Houston, Texas. She won all four gold medals in the individual events (clubs, hoop, ribbon and rope) during Thursday’s competition.

She posted a two-day score of 131.950 to best Rachel Marmer of Los Angeles, Calif., and Ava Gehringer of Evanston, Ill., who finished second and third, respectively. Marmer posted a 125.100 and Gehringer scored a 123.550.

Wang has decided to retire from competitive rhythmic gymnastics and focus on college. She will enroll at Yale University in the fall.

“I loved being out there,” Wang said of her final competition. “It was great doing the sport that I love. It’s an amazing sport and it was an amazing part of my life.”

Wang retires with 13 career U.S. senior rhythmic gymnastics titles: the all-around, clubs, hoop, ribbon and rope in 2008; the all-around, hoop and clubs in 2007; the all-around, ball and ribbon in 2006; and ball and clubs in 2005. She also won five U.S. titles as a junior: hoop and clubs in 2002; and the all-around, ball and ribbon in 2001. Wang has represented the United States at three World Championships (2003, 2005 and 2007). At the 2007 Pan American Games, she won gold medals in the all-around and ribbon, and placed second in clubs and rope.

In the junior all-around, Marlee Shape of Buffalo Grove, Ill., claimed her second straight U.S. junior all-around title with a score of 122.100. Finishing second was Gabrielle Magid of Brooklyn, N.Y., with a score of 114.275, and in third was Rebecca Sereda of Las Vegas, Nev., with a score of 112.850.

Visa Gymnastics Championships Headed for Houston

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA (May 17, 2008) The USA’s best gymnasts in men’s gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics and trampoline and tumbling are heading to Houston for the 2008 Visa Championships, May 22-24, at Reliant Park. 2007 U.S. men’s all-around champion David Durante of Garwood, N.J./Team Chevron, 2006-07 U.S. rhythmic all-around champion Lisa Wang of Buffalo Grove, Ill./North Shore Rhythmic, and 2007 U.S. trampoline champions Chris Estrada of Lafayette, La./OTC Trampoline Team, and Brittany Dircks of Orland Park, Ill./Ultra Twisters, seek to retain their titles. Also slated to compete are Jonathan Horton of Houston/Team Chevron, who finished fourth in the all-around at the 2007 World Championships, 2004 Olympic all-around champion Paul Hamm of Waukesha, Wis./Team Chevron, and 2004 Olympic team silver-medalists Morgan Hamm of Waukesha, Wis., and Blaine Wilson of Columbus, Ohio.

For men’s gymnastics and trampoline, the Visa Championships serve as part of their Road to Beijing: for the men, it is the qualifying event for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Gymnastics, June 19-22 in Philadelphia; and for trampoline, it is the third of four events where athletes earn points toward Olympic selection. One man and one woman will represent the USA in trampoline at the 2008 Olympic Games.

Below are quick snapshots of the fields for rhythmic gymnastics and trampoline and tumbling. The men’s field was previously released, but is also recapped. The complete field for the 2008 Visa Championships is listed below by state.

Rhythmic gymnastics
Wang is the defending U.S. champion in the all-around, hoop and clubs. Other rhythmic gymnasts in the field include Rachel Marmer of Los Angeles/Eurogymnastics, the 2007 U.S. rope champion, and Julie Zetlin of Bethesda, Md./Rhythmflex, the 2007 U.S. ribbon champion. Marlee Shape of Buffalo Grove, Ill./North Shore Rhythmic, who competes in the junior division, earned four medals, including three gold medals in the all-around, hoop and ribbon, in 2007.

The rhythmic field breaks down into 23 seniors and 26 juniors, representing 11 states.

Trampoline and tumbling
Eight athletes who claimed medals at the 2007 World Championships are scheduled to compete at the Visa Championships: Susannah Johnson of Roanoke, Va./Capital Gymnastics, Leanne Seitzinger of Stafford, Va./Novaks' Gymnastics Center, and Kaitlin Tortorich of Fredericksburg, Va./Capital Gymnastics (women’s tumbling team gold medal); Kalon Ludvigson of Sterling, Utah/Team Revolution, Andrew Muzzarelli of Rockford, Ill./Gymnastics Academy of Rockford, and Stephen Raymond of Byron Center, Mich./Great Lakes Griffins (men’s double mini-trampoline team silver medal); Aubree Balkan of Carlsbad, Calif./Bounce California, and Sarah Prosen of Apple Valley, Minn./Gleason's Gypsy Flyers (women’s double mini-trampoline team bronze medal). Ludvigson also won an individual bronze medal in men’s double mini.

In addition to Dircks and Estrada, the other defending U.S. champions in the trampoline and tumbling senior division are: Alaina Williams of Amarillo, Texas/OTC Trampoline Team, women’s synchronized trampoline; Logan Dooley of Lake Forest, Calif./OTC Trampoline Team and Steven Gluckstein of Atlantic Highlands, N.J./Ultra Twisters, men’s synchronized trampoline; and Ludvigson, men’s tumbling and double mini. Erin Blanchard of Lafayette, La./OTC Trampoline Team, and Alaina Hebert of Broussard, La./OTC Trampoline Team, claimed the U.S. women’s trampoline titles in 2006, and in 2001 and 2005, respectively.

The trampoline and tumbling field of 79 represents 19 states and includes 32 seniors and 47 juniors (two athletes are competing as seniors in one event and juniors in another).

Men’s gymnastics
The senior men’s 44-man field also includes all seven members of the 2007 World Championships Team. The U.S. champions and the 2008-09 U.S. Men’s National Team will also be determined in Houston.

The seven members of the 2007 World Championships Team that finished fourth are: Guillermo Alvarez of Denver/Team Chevron; Alexander Artemev of Lakewood, Colo./Team Chevron; Sean Golden, Camden of N.J./Team Chevron; Sho Nakamori of Albany, Calif./Stanford University; Kevin Tan of Fremont, Calif./Team Chevron; Durante and Horton. At the 2007 World Championships, Horton placed fourth in the all-around, and Alvarez and Tan finished fourth in the floor exercise and still rings, respectively.

In addition to the seven world team members, Paul Hamm and Wilson, the members of the U.S. Men’s Senior National Team in the field are: Raj Bhavsar of Houston/Team Chevron; Joseph Hagerty of Rio Rancho, N.M./Team Chevron; David Sender of Arlington Heights, Ill./Stanford University; Justin Spring of Burke, Va./Team Chevron; Yewki Tomita of Tucson, Ariz./Team Chevron; and Sean Townsend of Houston/Team Chevron.

At the 2004 Olympic Games, Paul Hamm became the first U.S. man to win the all-around Olympic crown. Both Hamms were also members of the 2000 U.S. Olympic Team, and Wilson is a three-time Olympian (1996, 2000 and 2004). Since returning to competitive gymnastics at the 2007 Visa Championships, Paul Hamm won the all-around at the 2008 Winter Cup Challenge, the 2008 Tyson American Cup and the 2008 Pacific Rim Gymnastics Championships presented by Gillette Venus.

The junior men’s field includes 2007 U.S. junior champions Glen Ishino of Santa Ana, Calif./SCATS – Huntington Beach, who won the still rings in the 16-18 year-old division, and John Orozco of Bronx, N.Y./World Cup Gymnastics, who claimed the all-around, still rings, parallel bars and horizontal bar titles in the 14-15 year-old division. Jake Dalton of Sparks, Nev./Gymnastics Nevada, and Donothan Bailey of Lake Forest, Calif./Azarian Gymnastics, won the floor exercise and pommel horse, respectively, in the 14-15 year-old division at the 2007 Visa Championships and are competing in this year’s 16-18 year-old division. Sam Mikulak of Newport Coast, Calif./SCATS – Huntington Beach, who finished first on vault in 2007, is again competing in the 14-15 year-old division.

The men’s field breaks down into 44 seniors and 35 juniors, 17 in the 14-15 year-old age group and 18 in 16-18 year-old age bracket.

About the Visa Championships
Single-session tickets are still available and range from $20-85 for men’s gymnastics, with those for rhythmic gymnastics and trampoline selling for $15 and $20. Tickets may be purchased charge by phone at 713-629-3700; online at www.ticketmaster.com; at all Ticketmaster outlets; or at the Reliant Stadium South Box Office. Visa is the only card accepted for the 2008 Visa Championships.

The schedule for men’s artistic gymnastics is: Thursday, May 22—senior men’s first day of competition at 7 p.m.; and May 24—junior men’s all-around and individual event finals at 12:30 p.m., and the final day of the senior men’s competition at 6 p.m. On May 23, Reliant Arena will host the U.S. Classic, a women’s gymnastics event. To view a participant list for the U.S. Classic, go to www.usa-gymnastics.org.

The schedule for rhythmic gymnastics and trampoline is: Thursday, May 22—junior rhythmic all-around prelims and individual event finals at 10 a.m., and senior rhythmic all-around prelims and individual event finals at 2:30 p.m.; Friday, May 23—junior trampoline and tumbling prelims at 10 a.m., and senior trampoline and tumbling prelims at 2:30 p.m.; and Saturday, May 24—junior rhythmic all-around and trampoline and tumbling finals at 10 a.m., and senior rhythmic all-around and trampoline and tumbling finals at 2:30 p.m.

The Visa Championships traces its history back to 1897 for the men.