Houston, TX (My Sportsbook) - American gymnast Paul Hamm may have to petition his way onto the U.S. gymnastics team for the upcoming Olympics in Beijing after breaking his hand on Thursday night. The injury is expected to sideline Hamm for three to four weeks, which would prevent him from competing in the U.S. team trials on June 19-22. Since he won't be able to take part in the trials, he will have to petition for a spot on the U.S. squad. Hamm, who won the all-around title at both the world championships in 2003 and the Athens Olympics in 2004, injured himself when he fell during a parallel bars routine in the U.S. gymnastics championships in Houston. Despite the fall, Hamm's overall score of 93.450 is nearly four points higher than second- place Joseph Hagerty going into day two. |
