Terrible, terrible news.
Getting back to the internet after a long driving road trip, this is the first thing I read.
After making a dramatic comeback from a broken bone in his right hand, gymnast Paul Hamm announced Monday that he would not defend his Olympic all-around title in Beijing.
Hamm, who had proved nine days ago that he was healthy enough to compete at the Summer Games, resigned from the team. The men’s gymnastics competition begins on Aug. 9, one day after the opening ceremony, and one of the team’s three alternates will take Hamm’s spot on the six-member squad.
“I’ve put my heart and soul into this comeback,†Hamm said on an afternoon conference call with reporters. “I needed to make continuous progress and have no setbacks.†But after returning from a pre-Olympic training camp, Hamm said it became clear to him that he would not be able to compete, saying he strained his rotator cuff and has been unable to perform all of his skills.
â€Unfortunately, the week after camp has been a disaster,†he said. “I have not been able to do a single full routine since I competed back in May at the U.S. Championships in Houston.â€
“Right now there are only five days of training before the podium training in Beijing,†Hamm said. “I can see now that it will be impossible for me to be ready.â€
The men’s gymnastics selection committee selected Raj Bhavsar of Houston, one of three alternates, to replace Hamm on the team pending approval by the U.S. Olympic Committee.
“Two weeks ago, he was great, he was awesome and did everything he needed to do to be at the Olympics,†said Hamm’s coach, Miles Avery, in a telephone call. “But I was saying all along that he needed to rest. But he pushed it.†…
larger original – Gymnast.com
I feel rotten for Paul. No matter how arrogant he may have seemed in the past, he did not deserve this.
Congratulations to Raj. His persistence and consistency put him on the team.
Good luck USA in Beijing.
Related:
Gymnastics Coaching.com 