Gymnastics: For the men, little is sure
The Times' Helene Elliott writes that almost nothing is sure going in to the final night of competition at the men's gymnastics trials at Philadelphia's Wachovia Center. And that’s a credit to just how good the performances have been.
All-around gold medalist Paul Hamm, unable to compete here after breaking a bone in his right hand, is a lock to get a berth when the team is announced, perhaps as soon as Sunday. But after that, who knows.
"I can say that a lot of guys helped themselves," Ron Galimore told Elliott tonight. "The thing you always hope to have is that guys go in and hit a lot of routines and have more control of their destiny. That makes it easier on the selection committee."
Galimore, vice president of the U.S. men's gymnastics program, knows of what he speaks. Once a standout gymnast at Louisiana State and Iowa State, he was the first to score a perfect 10 in vault and won a spot on the 1980 Olympic team. But the U.S. boycott of those Moscow Games kept Galimore from competing. In April, he participated in the torch relay for the Beijing Games.
Photo: Paul Hamm's twin brother, Morgan, catches his breath after his floor exercise routine Thursday night. He tied for eighth on floor, something unexpected since he won floor at the national championships two weeks ago. Credit: Stew Milne/US Presswire
