Hamm gets doctor’s OK to start training

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Paul Hamm’s doctor said the gold medalist’s broken hand is healed enough that he can return to regular gymnastics.

That gives Hamm five weeks to get ready for the Beijing Games.

Dr. Lawrence Lubbers, the hand specialist who operated on Hamm on May 27, said that an X-ray showed enough healing and that Hamm was thrilled with the news.

‘You could just kind of see him light up when he was looking at the X-ray,’ Lubbers told AP.

‘His hand therapist said he looked like a thoroughbred bursting out of the gate to get back to the gym.’

Hamm earned a spot on the Olympic team, but on July 19 he will have to prove to gymnastics officials that he is able to compete in Beijing.

-- Debbie Goffa