[Please post on the sticky folks rather than create multitudes of them, thanks (Spoiler Warning: http://prince.org/msg/100/278629 - luv4u]

Underdog Americans surprising in men's gymnastics
08/09 12:27:21 ET
Beijing, China (Sports Network) - Despite the Hamm brothers being out of the Olympics, the U.S. men's gymnastics squad has pulled together and advanced to the team finals.

Paul Hamm, the reigning all-around champion, withdrew from the Summer Games less than two weeks ago due to a broken right hand, and his twin, Morgan, pulled out earlier this week because of a left ankle injury.

The Americans were left with all first-time Olympians, but despite two replacement athletes on the roster, the U.S. has a chance to medal.

Sasha Artemev and Jonathan Horton qualified for the all-around finals. Artemev, who won the pommel horse in the weighted combined rankings from the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Gymnastics and Visa Championships. was 17th in the all-around qualifying, while Horton was seventh.

"I think we proved today to all the naysayers that we're still medal contenders," Horton said.

Raj Bhavsar, Joseph Hagerty, Justin Spring and Kevin Tan are the other U.S. gymnasts.

Tan posted the highest score for the USA on rings with a 15.725, while Bhavsar's 16.175 led the USA on vault in the second rotation. Spring and Bhavsar led the men with scores of 15.800 and 15.625, respectively, on parallel bars. Horton earned the USA's highest score on horizontal bar with a 15.575. On floor exercise, the USA scored a total 59.900. Artemev's 15.250 was the USAs highest score for pommel horse.

Reigning team world champion China finished first in the qualification round with 374.675 points, followed by 2004 Olympic team champion Japan in second with a 369.550 and Russia in third at 366.225. Germany and South Korea finished both finished at 365.675. The USA earned a total of 365.200 points for sixth. Rounding out the team finalists are France in seventh and Romania in eighth.

"To make a major team personnel change, compete in the first subdivision and qualify for the team finals is a huge accomplishment, and we are looking forward to competing on Tuesday," said Kevin Mazeika, head coach for the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team for men's gymnastics. "We accomplished our first set of goals -- to go out and be consistent, and to qualify for team finals. We will go through our usual process and review our performances in the prelims, and the coaches will meet to determine our line up for the 6-3-3 format in the finals."

China's Yang Wei had the highest total score from the six events. Germany's Fabian Hambuechen, the current world all-around silver medalist, was second.

Scores from the qualification round do not carry forward to the finals.

The women's qualification round is Sunday.


Do they have what it takes to go the distance?

I personally think they have a lot of heart and ability to medal in the individuals but not as a team.


China thus far, has knocked my socks off.

I am a huge fan of Raj Bhavsar. Im following gymnastics closely this Olympic year, as closely as I do track and field, which is my favorite competition series of all.

dreamfactory313 said:

Loving the alternates too. It will either go extremely well and or very bad. I don't see middle ground here.

Muse2NOPharaoh said:

I agree. Keep your fingers crossed.

You can NOT post something with THAT title and NOT post hawt pics.

FAIL!

I mean, WTF is WRONG with you?

Really! The NERVE...

I mean...

Vroommmmm

Toot Toot!

HamsterHuey said:

Raj!
Raj!
Raj!

And we have a WINNERRRRR...

Will Justin Spring report to Uncle Huey's Lap, Justing Spring to Uncle Huey's Lap.

dreamfactory313 said:

He can watch me and Justin, sure.

Dreams About The Hand...

Fantasies about the lips...

Oh lawd..

Come 2 Huey...

HamsterHuey said:

a herion addict that lives the neighborhood loks exactly like him.
his name is johnny, 25. he pedals a yellow bike around bothering the neighbors to spray paint house numbers on the curb for cash- which is illegal.

Forgive Me I have sinned!

horatio said:

Ermmm, okay.

Sure.



[img]We will be RIGHT back after the commercial break...[/img]


Why do yiu always turn simple homosexual adoration into something DIRTY? What is WRONG with you?

You see; you made me use all the wrong codes...

Bastids! Buggery, bloody bastids!

Muse2NOPharaoh said:

Sorry for the slow response, I was too busy licking my computer screen.

horatio said:

Make sure he is using GOLD!

not a great picture, but you get the idea.



a P.O. that lives in the area said he wants to throw him in the back of his truck and ruff him up a bit, then fuck him.

HamsterHuey said:

Have you seen the Dutch beach vollyball players? They are competing with USA right now...

Muse2NOPharaoh said:

why?

horatio said:

The general idea of you being a bit of a stalker start to paint itself in my mind, yes.

horatio said:

You been sniffing too much of that paint, haven't you? Even I got that.

HamsterHuey said:

yup, anything suspicious going on around my house i get a photo of. My neighbor next to me accuses him of trying to break into his house in broad day light. Then running through my back yard, which i did see the later part.