Gymnastics champion Paul Hamm will miss US Olympics trial
Reigning Olympic all-around men’s gymnastics champion Paul Hamm will miss next month’s US Olympic Gymnastics trials after suffering a broken right hand at the US Championships.
Hamm, trying to make a comeback after a two-year break and qualify for the Beijing Olympics, suffered the injury while performing on the parallel bars on Thursday’s opening night of the meet.
Hamm broken the knuckle on his right ringfinger, X-rays showed Friday, forcing Hamm to pull out of the event and forcing him to petition the USA Gymnastics selection committee for a chance to defend his crown in Beijing. “The team has to be named by July 1 and at that time he would have to show that there’s a reasonable expectation he would be able to participate at a high level,” said Dennis McIntyre, USA Gymnastics men’s program director.
“Obviously, Paul is a prime candidate for the Olympic team. I don’t think anybody doubts that.” Hamm and China’s Yang Wei are among those expected to be among the top challengers for all-around gold at Beijing. James Bicos, an Indianapolis sports specialist surgeon, said Hamm would likely need a pin inserted in his hand and could not practice for the next four to six weeks, missing next month’s Olympic trials. “We’re working to get Paul home to see a specialist,” said Miles Avery, Hamm’s coach.
“We need to find out what the best course of action is to get it taken care of and to develop a strategy for getting him back to this level as quickly and safely as possible.”
Should Hamm show he is healthy, he would likely be granted a spot on the team and a chance to perform at the US pre-Olympic camp in Colorado on July 13-22, where he would need to show he was physically ready to compete. Alternates would be named to the team and could be inserted up to 24 hours before the start of competition in Beijing.
“This is an unfortunate development in Paul’s comeback,” USA Gymnastics president Steve Penny said. “He has demonstrated repeatedly that he can perform at the highest level, so we look forward to knowing more once the injury has been fully diagnosed.”
