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.”