Hamm brothers lead U.S. gymnastics team

Hamm brothers lead U.S. gymnastics team

American gymnastics officials have named the six men expected to represent the U.S. at the Beijing Games.

Reigning Olympic champion Paul Hamm, who is coming back from a hand injury, is on the list. His twin brother, Morgan, joins him along with Kevin Tan, Justin Spring, Joseph Hagerty and Jonathan Horton.

To be confirmed as team members, the men must prove they are ready at a training camp July 13-22 in Colorado Spring, Colo.

Paul Hamm, who won the individual all-around title at the 2004 Athens Games, is recovering from a broken bone in his right hand. He broke the bone at the nationals last month and underwent surgery May 27.

David Durante, Alexander Artemev and Raj Bhavsar have been named as alternates. Two of the men will head to Beijing, but officials haven’t yet decided which two.

Many observers are surprised that Artemev is not one of the top six picks. He won a bronze medal in the pommel horse at the 2006 world championships, and won the U.S. individual all-around title that year.

But he missed three of his four pommel horse routines at this year’s nationals and Olympic trials combined, and U.S. gymnastics officials say that wasn't good enough to merit a spot on the starting roster.

Paul Hamm isn’t the only man on the list coming back from injury. His brother, Morgan, suffered a torn pectoral muscle late last year and competed at this year’s nationals with a strained ankle.

Also, Spring underwent reconstructive knee surgery last summer, sprained his ankle at nationals and suffered severe back spasms just two weeks ago.