Olympic Gold Medalist Paul Hamm Pulls Out Of 2008 Olympics
Paul Hamm was disappointed to learn that he would not be able to attend this year’s Beijing Olympics. He announced this morning that he would withdrawing from the U.S. team due to a broken right hand and a strained left rotator cuff.
“This has been the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make. But I have too much respect for the Olympics and my team to continue on when I know the best thing for everyone is for me to step aside,” Hamm said. “I did everything I possibly could,” the 25-year-old added. “There just wasn’t enough time. I feel like if I had another month, I would have been able to get the job done.”
One of the alternates—Sasha Artemev, David Durante and Raj Bhavsar—will take Hamm’s place. Dennis McIntyre, the men’s program director for USA Gymnastics, said the selection committee will meet and make a decision as soon as possible. “We’re going to go back through with the committee and review all of the scores, all of the results and make a determination of which athlete brings the most to the team and the team’s success,” McIntyre said.
Hamm’s injury is a blow to the Americans, who were fourth at last year’s world championships and hoped his return—and that of twin brother Morgan— would get them back on the podium. It also clears the way for China’s Yang Wei in the all-around race. Yang, the two-time defending world champion, is so technically superior that Hamm is believed to be the only one who could challenge him.
“When you go into the Olympic Games, you’re supposed to be in the best shape of your life,” Hamm said. “Not the worst shape.” He broke his hand May 22 at the national championships, just 11 weeks before the start of the games. He had surgery five days later and pushed his recovery in hopes he’d be healthy enough to help the Americans win a medal and defend his all-around title.
But a hand injury is one of the toughest for a gymnast to overcome. Every one of the six events puts a heavy load of stress on the hand, and many moves require the hand to be twisted sharply or to support a gymnast’s entire body weight.