On June 22nd, America’s hope for medals in Men’s Gymnastics for the upcoming 2008 Olympics in Beijing solidified when team members were selected: Joe Hagerty, Morgan Hamm, Paul Hamm, Jonathan Horton, Justin Spring,  and Kevin Tan.  Three replacement athletes were also announced: Alexander Artemev, Raj Bhavsar and David Durante.

Gymnastics experts tout the USA team as one of the strongest contigents of medal contenders ever in its history.

“The competition at the Trials this week has been incredible, and the USA has fielded a very strong team for Beijing,” said Steve Penny, president of USA Gymnastics. “The U.S. men are medal contenders. The men’s selection committee was very thorough in its deliberations to determine the best combination of men to represent us in the Games. (http://www.usa-gymnastics.org/Story.aspx?ArticleID=2267&tabid=321)

 

The Olympics are scheduled to run from August 8 -24. Recently, the Chinese government has been trying to downplay the protests that have accompanied the Olympic torch relays by groups for the Free Tibet movement.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The recent Gymnastics tryouts and selection of the team have, at least put away those troubles for a second, as athletes and countries dream of Olympic glory.