U.S. men’s gymnastics team loses another Hamm

Greetings from hazy, crazy Beijing.

One day to go before the Games open.

The big news from Team USA while you slept is that Morgan Hamm withdrew from the men’s gymnastics team due to an injured left ankle. Morgan’s twin brother Paul, the defending Olympic gold-medalist in the all-around, withdrew earlier because of complications from a broken bone in his hand.

Said Morgan Hamm, a two-time Olympian, in a press release from USA Gymnastics: “I have been dealing with this for the last year, and it recently has gotten worse here in Beijing. Right now I am unable to perform my tumbling skills at the level that I need to. This has an impact on my ability to contribute to the team’s goals and I believe by continuing I would be putting myself at further risk. There are two very capable athletes who can step in and help this team more than I can right now.”

“Morgan’s dedication to helping the USA claim a team medal for the second straight Olympics has been exemplary,” said Steve Penny, president of USA Gymnastics. “He has done every thing he could to contribute to this team, and we appreciate his efforts. We also appreciate his putting the team’s best interests first. He has once again demonstrated why he is a champion.”

The way to China runs through Hawaii

Aloha!

A week of vacation in Maui has me revitalized for the Olympics. Leaving for Beijing on Tuesday.

Glad to hear that Tyson Gay (Lexington, Lafayette H.S.) says his rehab is going well.

Also saw were Stubby Clapp (Lexington Legends) walked, stole second and then scoring the winning run in Canada’s win over the U.S. baseball team over the weekend.

Will be catching up on more Kentuckians as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, here’s what organizers in Beijing had to say Monday about the torch relay:

(BEIJING, August 5) — Details on the final stretch of the Olympic torch relay were revealed during a press conference this morning. The Beijing relay, which will last for 3 days from August 6-8, will take the flame through all 18 Beijing districts and along all 19 roads in the newly expanded Beijing Economic and Technological District. The entire relay will cover 40km of ground, and the torch will pass through the hands of 841 torch bearers, taking close to 9 hours to complete.

On Wednesday, the Beijing relay will begin at the Forbidden City. Over 4 hours, 16km, and 433 torch bearers later, the torch will make its final stop of the day at another historical Beijing landmark, the Temple of Heaven.

The following day, the torch will travel another 14km, starting outside Beijing at the famous Badaling section of the Great Wall and ending back within city limits, in Ditan Park.

On the morning of the Opening Ceremony, the torch will appear in front of the Peking Man Museum and pass through the hands of 140 torch bearers over the 8km route to Beijing’s 101 District Middle School, where the torch will then be transported to the National Stadium for the Opening Ceremony later that night.

Of the 841 torchbearers represented in the 3 day torch relay, 232 are members of the Beijing Olympic Committee, 90 are members of the National Olympic Committee, 60 are members of the International Olympic Committee, and 170 are associated with sponsor companies. The remaining 289 torchbearers were handpicked by the Beijing city government.

Among those chosen are NBA basketball superstar Yao Ming, Turin Olympics 500m. speed skating gold medalist, Wang Meng, and China’s first gold medalist Xu Haifeng. Some of China’s most famous actors and performers will also join the torch-bearing ranks. Comedian Feng Gong, actress Song Dandan, and opera singer Dai Yuqiang, are some of the better known stars that will participate in the Beijing relay. Other Chinese note-worthies include China’s first astronaut Yang Liwei, designer of the Beijing mascots Han Meiling, and TV personality David. Teachers, students, factory workers, police officers, artists, and handicapped bearers will join their more famous counterparts in the Olympic torch relay.

In addition to hundreds of local participants, there are 64 foreigners and 3 Hong Kong residents participating in the final Beijing relay. The oldest torchbearer is 85, and the youngest, only 14.

Karen O’Connor ready for her fourth Olympics

Karen O’Connor, listed as an Olympic alternate, has been moved up and now is scheduled to compete in her fourth Olympics.

O’Connor will ride Madiba in equestrian’s Three-Day Event at Hong Kong.

They replace Heidi White and Northern Spy, who was withdrawn “for veterinary reasons,” according to a news release from the U.S. Equestrian Federation.

Here’s how Team USA’s rider/horse combinations now appear in Eventing:

Rider/Age/Hometown/Horse/Age/Breed/Sex/Owner (in alphabetical order): 

Phillip Dutton/44/West Grove, PA/Connaught/15/Irish Sport Horse/G/Bruce Duchossois 

Becky Holder/39/Mendota Heights, MN/Courageous Comet/12/Thoroughbred/G/Becky and Thomas Holder, Jr. 

Gina Miles/34/Creston, CA/McKinlaigh/14/Irish Sport Horse/Gina Miles, Laura Coats and Thomas Schulz 

Karen O’Connor/50/The Plains, VA/Mandiba/9/Irish Thoroughbred/G/Joan Goswell 

Amy Tryon/38/Duvall, WA/Poggio II/16/Thoroughbred/G/Amy and Greg Tryon and Mark Hart 

Replacements in alphabetical order:  

Bruce Davidson, Jr./32/ Ocala, FL/BallyNoe Castle RM/8/Irish Thoroughbred/G/Carl and Cassandra Segal 

Phillip Dutton/44/West Grove, PA/Woodburn/13/Thoroughbred/G/Acorn Hill Farm 

Bonnie Mosser/45/Gordonsville, VA/Merloch/11/New Zealand Thoroughbred Cross/G/Bonnie Mosser, Margaret Egan

Paul Hamm withdraws from Olympic team

Paul Hamm, the 2004 gold-medalist in the men’s gymnastics all-around, withdrew Monday from the Beijing Summer Olympic Games.

The press release from USA Gymnastics follows:

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., July 28, 2008 – Paul Hamm of Waukesha, Wis., today officially notified USA Gymnastics and the U.S. Olympic Committee that he was resigning from the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team for men’s gymnastics.

 

“I have put my heart and soul into my comeback and done everything I could to get ready in time to compete in Beijing,” said Hamm, who won the all-around title at the 2004 Olympic Games and is recovering from a broken hand.  “After returning home from the preparation camp, I had a few physical setbacks, and it became clear to me that my physical preparations would not be sufficient to properly represent the United States and contribute to the team’s efforts to win a medal. I recently strained my rotator cuff and have been unable to perform all of my skills.  I am very grateful to have been given the opportunity to make a comeback. At this point in time, the success of the team and fairness to the team, and the alternates, is most important. While I am very disappointed, I feel I can wait no longer to make this decision.”

 

Hamm began his return to competitive gymnastics in August 2007 after a nearly three-year layoff after the 2004 Games to complete his education.  In 2008, he won the all-around title at the Winter Cup Challenge, Tyson American Cup and Pacific Rim Championships presented by Gillette Venus.  Hamm broke his fourth metacarpal on May 22 during the Visa Championships and successfully petitioned to the Olympic Team in June. He demonstrated his competitive readiness on July 19 to the men’s selection committee, and the men’s preparation camp concluded on July 22. 

 

“We admire Paul for making this difficult decision,” said Steve Penny, president of USA Gymnastics.  “Paul’s comeback this year has been phenomenal, made even more impressive following the injury to his hand.  He has raised the level of determination among the entire team to put forth a medal winning effort in China.  We respect his decision at this time, which is being made to serve the best interests of all of the athletes involved.

 

Based in Indianapolis, USA Gymnastics is the national governing body for gymnastics in the United States.  Its mission is to encourage participation and the pursuit of excellence in the sport.  Its disciplines include men’s and women’s artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, trampoline and tumbling, and acrobatic gymnastics.  For more information, log on to www.usa-gymnastics.org.

Bolt blasts 19.76 to best Spearmon in London 200

International track and field star Usain Bolt bounced back from a narrow loss in the 100 meters earlier in the week to score an impressive win at 200 meters Saturday in the Aviva London Grand Prix.

Bolt, edged by fellow Jamaican Asafa Powell in the 100, was the only entrant to break 20 seconds Saturday. He hit the finish line in 19.76, more than half a second ahead of World Outdoor bronze-medalist and former Arkansas standout Wallace Spearmon in 20.27. Another American, Rodney Martin, was fifth in 20.55. Bolt ran a world-leading 19.67 two weeks earlier at Athens.

Bolt’s time lopped eight-hundredths of a second from the the two-year-old stadium record set by Lexington’s Tyson Gay.

The 200 is considered Bolt’s specialty, but he broke Powell’s world record in the 100 when he beat Gay and finished in 9.72 on May 31.

This week, he addressed concerns that he might actually pass up a chance to run the 100 at the Beijing Olympics.

“I definitely want to double,” Bolt told Matthew Brown of the IAAF Thursday. ”This is an Olympic year and you have to take it seriously. But I don’t know what I’ll be doing. That’s up to my coach (Glen Mills).

“He hasn’t given me a clue about when he’ll decide. He wants to leave it until the latest possible time. I just have to get ready to do every event. He has made nothing but good decisions for me so far, so I won’t start to question him now. What his criteria are for deciding, I don’t know. I just do exactly what he says.”

Bolt’s status remained the same after Saturday’s race.

Also winning at the Crystal Palace on Saturday was Team USA’s Kerron Clement in the 400-meter hurdles (48.36).

Great Britain got first-place finishes from Martyn Rooney in the 400 (44.83) and Greg Rutherford in the long jump (26-9.25).

Ugandans captured the men’s 800 and 3,000. In the two-lapper, Abraham Chepkirwok clocked 1:45.64. In the 3K, Boniface Kiprop finished in 7:36.95. Former Arkansas star Alistair Cragg of Ireland was third in 7:38.60.

Evgeniy Lukyanenko and Australia’s Steven Hooker both pole-vaulted 19-7, the Russian getting the win on fewer misses.

Allyson Felix, a disappointing fourth in Friday’s 200, did not come back as expected in the women’s 100.

Instead, Jamaicans Veronica Campbell-Brown and Shelly-Ann Fraser ran 1-2 (10.87 and 10.95), followed by Americans Marshevet Hooker (11.07), Torri Edwards (11.09) and Carmelita Jeter (11.17).

Team USA picked up wins from Jen Rhines in the 3,000 (8:53.26) and LoLo Jones in the 100-meter hurdles (12.58). Joanna Hayes, the 2004 Olympic champion, placed third in the hurdles (12.63).

Other women’s winners included Britain’s Marilyn Okoro in the 800 (1:58.45); Jamaica’s Melaine Walker in the 400-meter hurdles (54.22); Russia’s Anna Chicherova in the high jump (6-7) and Germany’s Christina Obergfoll in the javelin (216-3.5).

Powell prevails in London 100; Felix fourth in 200

While Lexington’s Tyson Gay pulled out of the 100 meters in order to nurse his sore hamstring, plenty of other Beijing-bound athletes put on a show Friday at the Aviva London Super Grand Prix.

Former world record-holder Asafa Powell, fresh off a win over fellow Jamaican and current (pending ratification) record-holder Usain Bolt, prevailed in the 100.

After a 10.06 qualifying win, Powell zipped a 9.94 finals, trailed by Marc Burns of Trinidad and Tobago (9.97). Jamaica’s Michael Frater took third (10.00), a hundredth ahead of Burns’ countryman Richard Thompson.

Olympic Trials winner and two-time World Outdoor champion Allyson Felix had a bad start and finished a stunning fourth in the women’s 200 (22.70). Jamaica’s Sherone Simpson won (22.70), ahead of Bianca Knight (22.79).

Felix will come back Saturday in the 100 vs. Jamaica’s Veronica Campbell-Brown, among others.

Other notables included World Outdoor champion Reese Hoffa. The defending meet champion and Louisville native topped two-time Olympic silver-medalist Adam Nelson in the shot put, 69-4 to 69-1.5. Tomasz Majewski of Poland took third (68-9.75), with Christian Cantwell (67-4) giving the U.S. a 1-2-4 finish.

David Oliver, just as he did in the Olympic Trials, snared the 110-meter hurdles (13.20), leading a U.S. sweep of the top four spots. Anwar Moore (13.52), Antwon Hicks (13.58 ) and Aries Merritt (13.61) followed Oliver. World record-holder Dayron Robles of Cuba was missing, apparently because he didn’t apply for a visa.

Kenya’s Shadrick Korir nipped Great Britain’s Andrew Baddeley in the mile, 3:54.68 to 3:54.76. Bernard Lagat, who will run the 1,500 and 5,000 for the U.S., was third in 3:55.20, only the second defeat of the season for the world champion. Australia’s Craig Mottram, last with 150 meters left, came on strong to bag fourth in 3:55.40.

The women’s 1,500 went to Britain’s Lisa Dobriskey (4:08.97).

Russia’s Yelena Isinbayeva, the world record-holder and reigning Olympic gold-medalist, defeated American record-holder Jenn Stuczynski in the women’s pole vault, 16-2 to 15-9 1/4.

Roisin McGettigan of Ireland set a stadium record in the women’s steeplechase (9:33.76).

Tayshaun Prince on the Olympics and Coach K

Had the chance to speak with Tayshaun Prince on the opening day of his youth camp in Lexington last week, and again this week after a Team USA practice in Las Vegas. From those discussions, you’ll see a Herald-Leader story Aug. 8 (opening date of the Olympics), part of a preview of “Kentucky connections” headed to Beijing.

Meanwhile, here is some of what the Detroit Pistons and former University of Kentucky player had to say.

On whether an Olympic gold medal would be as sweet as an NCAA or NBA championship: “It definitely ranks up at the top. When you talk about a national championship or an NBA championship, it definitely ranks up there above that. The reason why I say that is because you’re talking about representing your country, your family, your friends. You’re playing against the best in the world, not just the country. And when you talk about playing against the best in the world and getting an Olympic gold medal, or trying to achieve that, it’s something that’s very special. So I definitely think that ranks up there at the top and, hopefully, it’ll come true.”

On preference for/against particular international and/or NBA rules: “It just kind of depends. Because even last year where there were some different rules that were involved in the international game, once you get to playing and going up and down and getting in the heat of battle, sooner or later the game is kind of the same. I think it just depends on what type of officials you have. … See how they’re calling things early in the game to determine if things are going to be different or not. Because some referees call things tight, some referees don’t. So even though they have different rules, things are still kind of the same. There might be a different rule here or there, but it just kind of depends what refs you have because some are lenient and some are not. So you’ve just got to go with the flow and see how things are going throughout the game.”

On whether sacrificing his off-season caused any second thoughts about agreeing to play for Team USA: “When you look at what I’ve done throughout my six-year career with the Pistons, pretty much playing into the month of June, summers have been short for me all the time. So when you’re talking about making a sacrifice to represent your country, that’s a once-in-a-lifetime thing. I know people kind of wonder if this is a situation where you’ll be fatigued when your season rolls around. All I’d say is this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be on an Olympic team, where you’re trying to achieve a gold medal, so I’ll take the opportunity.”

On playing under Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski: “It’s fun. I know a lot of people would want to know how would it work or how would it gel with a college coach coaching NBA players in the Olympics. It’s been a great opportunity. I’m pretty sure that he’s learning stuff from us but, at the same time, we’re learning things from him. We’ve got other good coaches here as well, college and NBA, that getls together. And when you have a chemistry and you put it together for a few years, I think that’s what makes it better.”

IOC: It’s unlikely Iraqis will be in Beijing Games

From its headquarters in Switzerland, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) issued a statement Thursday on Iraq’s status for the Beijing Olympics:

Despite the best efforts of the International Olympic Committee, it seems very unlikely that any Iraqi athlete will compete at the Beijing Olympic Games.

The IOC would like to see Iraq’s athletes in Beijing, and is disappointed they have been so ill-served by their own government’s actions. The deadline for taking up places for Beijing for all sports except athletics has now passed and as a result we must now reallocate a number of Iraq’s qualified or invited quota places.

The IOC’s executive board temporarily suspended the Iraqi National Olympic Committee on 4^th June 2008, after the Iraqi Government dismissed the legitimate NOC (national Olympic committee) and installed a new committee, chaired by its own Minister of Sport, which the IOC does not recognise.

The Olympic Charter forbids political interference in the Olympic Movement. Rule 28(9) of the Charter provides for the suspension of an NOC in the event that: “any governmental body…causes the activity of the NOC…to be hampered.”

The Iraqi government was invited to come to Lausanne to discuss possible remedies, but did not positively respond to the IOC’s invitation.

Over the last five years, the IOC and the wider Olympic family have provided funding and training opportunities to support the Iraqi NOC and more than 50 Iraqi athletes and coaches. The Iraqi government’s actions have destroyed this progress.

The IOC will continue to search for ways to help Iraqi athletes and support the role of sports in a safe and peaceful Iraq.

Tyson Gay is USOC Men’s Athlete of Month

Lexington’s Tyson Gay is the U.S. Olympic Committee’s choice for Men’s June Athlete of the Month.

Hyleas Fountain, also from track and field, took top women’s honors, while the USA women’s wheelchair basketball squad captured the team award.

Gay, out of Lafayette High School and the University of Arkansas, won the U.S. Olympic Trials with the fastest 100-meter dash of all time under any conditions. His time of 9.68 seconds does not count as a world record because it was wind-aided, but the result gave Gay a berth on the U.S. Olympic team. Gay did get a record in the quarterfinals, with a calmer wind, racing to an American-record 9.77.

A strained left hamstring knocked him out of the 200-meter quarterfinals, but Gay expects to be ready to run the 100 and the 4-by-100 relay at the Beijing Olympics. Although the Games open Aug. 8, track and field competition won’t start until Aug. 15.

Fountain, a former University of Georgia standout from Dayton, Ohio, won the Olympic Trials heptathlon with a personal-best and world-leading 6,667 points. Within the multi-event competition, Fountain won the 100-meter hurdles (American-record 12.65), shot put (personal-best 44-10 1/4) and 200 meters (personal-best 23.1) on Day One, also placing second in the high jump (5-11 1/4). On Day Two, Fountain won the long jump (22-7) and javelin (158-0), placing 13th in the 800 (2:27.69).

The Women’s Wheelchair hoopsters won the Joseph F. Lyttle World Basketball Challenge at Warm Springs, Ga., as well as the North American Cup at Birmingham, Ala. The team went 6-0 at Georgia, defeating Japan, Mexico, Germany, Great Britian, Canada and, in the finals, Germany (56-50). At Birmingham, the Americans went 5-0 with victories over Germany, Canada and Australia, then Canada again in the semifinals and Germany in the finals (50-37). Stephanie Wheeler of Tuscaloosa, Ala., earned all-tournament honors and Jen Ruddell of Champaign, Ill, was named MVP. 

The roster also included Emily Hoskins, a Murray State student by way of Mascoutah, Ill.

The top three in each USOC Award category for June:

MEN — 1. Tyson Gay, track and field; David Boudia, diving; Vincent Hancock, shooting.

WOMEN — 1. Hyleas Fountain, track and field; Jennie Finch, softball; Laura Wilkinson, diving.

TEAMS — 1. USA Women’s Wheelchair Basketball Team; (only team considered).

Powell edges Bolt in Stockholm 100

Wondering if Lexington’s Tyson Gay, provided his hamstring holds up, can beat Jamaican world record-holder Usain Bolt at the Beijing Olympics?

Bolt’s countryman, Asafa Powell, showed how it’s done Tuesday at Stockholm.

Powell, the former world record-holder, was timed in 9.88 seconds. Bolt, who on May 31 dropped the world mark from 9.74 to 9.72 and beat Gay in the process, was slow out of the blocks Tuesday and finished a hard-charging second in 9.89. Jaysuma Saidy Ndure of Norway was third in 10.06. Bolt said a false start hurt his focus.

Americans Lauryn Williams (11.10) and Marshavet Hooker (11.13) swept the top two places in the women’s 100.

Stadium records fell to Dayron Robles, Yelena Iswinbayeva and Meseret Defar.

Robles, whose 12.91 clocking in the 110-meter hurdles was four-hundredths of a second off his world record, is from Cuba. Americans David Oliver (13.04), Aries Merritt (13.33), Terrence Trammell (13.35) and Antwon Hicks (13.41) placed 2-3-4-5.

Isinbayeva, a Russian who holds the women’s pole vault world record, cleared 15-11.

Defar, from Ethiopia, dominated the women’s 5,000 meters in 14:12.60.

U.S. Olympic Trials runner-up Jeremy Wariner, the defending Olympic gold-medalist and two-time world champion at 400 meters, won his specialty in 44.29. Chris Brown of the Bahamas was second in 44.53, followed by Ricardo Chambers of Jamaica in 44.84.