Give Hamm a hand, he\'s going to Beijing

Tag : titanium block

Eight weeks after the injury, Hamm needed to show competitivereadiness at the final intrasquad meet before the U.S. team leavesfor China. After watching Hamm excel, then gathering for a shortmeeting, the men's selection committee confirmed the 25-year-olddefending all-around champion would be on the team.
"It's been a wild ride for me ever since my comeback into thesport," Hamm said. "I'm just happy right now to be able to competeat this level."
It was a typically classy effort from America's best gymnast,though not exactly a stroll. Hamm grimaced and grunted his waythrough his rings routine and nearly fell during his high barlanding _ signs that he needs the next three weeks to get incompetitive shape.
But nobody expected perfection.
What they wanted to make sure of was that the hand had healedsufficiently, that his routines were rounding into form and thatthe spot awarded him after he petitioned his way through nationalsand Olympic trials should still be his.
Answers: Yes, yes and yes.
"He's a very experienced athlete, a very intelligent athlete and avery calculating athlete," said men's program director DennisMcIntyre. "From an emotional standpoint, it's exciting to see howfar he's come. We have no doubt he'll do what he needs to do to beready."
The Americans go through team qualifying in Beijing on Aug. 9 _three weeks from Saturday. Hamm said he has enjoyed almostexponential improvement since he returned to training in full abouttwo weeks ago. Everyone who has been watching him agrees.
"For him, it was about making the team today," said Paul's twinbrother, Morgan. "He had extra pressure put on him today. ... Butwe just say, 'Go do gymnastics.' He knows when he gets in thesesituations, his body goes on automatic pilot and Paul Hamm comesout."
The selection committee mainly wanted to see Hamm go on rings, highbar and pommel horse, but he did portions of all six events,including the parallel bars, which is where he broke his right ringfinger in the closing seconds of his routine at nationals.
Quick and successful surgery ensued _ a titanium plate and ninesmall screws repaired the break _ and Hamm is adding new portionsto his routines almost daily.