U.S. Olympic Team Set To Be Finalized Thursday

NORMAN, Okla. OU assistant men's gymnastics coach Guard Young is among seven men fighting for the two available spots on the U.S. Olympic Team that will compete in Athens, Greece this summer. The athletes are in Colorado Springs, Colo., the home of the U.S. Olympic Training Center, participating in a camp that began on Sunday, July 11 and ends today. The decision on the remaining spots is set to be announced by the U.S. Olympic Selection committee today at 7 p.m. (EST). Young last tried to earn a spot on the team in 2000 and fell just short but now finds himself in a solid position to potentially help the U.S. team in Athens.

“Four guys have already been named and now the committee is looking to fill in some of the holes,” said Young. ”I think I have the potential to fill in some of those holes for the final two spots in at least two of my events.”

Along with Young, two-time Olympian Blaine Wilson has also been asked by the committee to compete in two actual competitions, one was held on Tuesday and the final meet is set for Thursday afternoon.

Summary Of Tuesday's Events

Both gymnasts were unable to compete at the U.S. Championships a month ago and had to petition to the selection committee to compete at the U.S. Olympic Trials two weeks ago. Young was forced to withdraw from the U.S. Championships due to an acute case of tendonitis in his Achilles' tendon while Wilson was still recovering from surgery in February.

Young and Wilson competed well at the U.S. Olympic Trials and both of them will have a chance of getting one of the available spots on the team. They can both make the team or neither of them can be selected depending on their performances next week. The other five athletes have had the option of competing in the meets in order to help their cause. A strategy is involved for all seven of the gymnasts as they will have to compete on the events they feel are their strongest or the ones the committee is searching for in order to fill some holes on the current team. The team that will represent the U.S. in Athens will be comprised of six gymnasts along with two other alternates.

“Its an odd situation because Guard and Blaine were the only ones asked to actually compete in both meets next week,” said Oklahoma head coach Mark Williams, who has been training Young for the Olympics. “Since they both missed the U.S. Championships and performed solid at the U.S. Trials, they want to see if they can maintain that level of consistency that will ultimately benefit the team's fight for a medal in this summer's games. The two meets next week will be as close to a real competition as possible with actual judges from the trials.

“If you look at the team now, in my opinion, they (committee members) are looking for help on the still rings, floor exercise and pommel horse. The four current members, Paul Hamm, Morgan Hamm, Jason Gatson and Brett McClure, are strong on all events but the high bar, parallel bars and vault are probably their best. Guard is capable of contributing good scores on five events, especially on the floor exercise and probably on the still rings as well.”

Young's successful gymnastics career already includes a second-place finish in the NCAA all-around during his time at Brigham Young, spots on three World Championship teams and two top-five finishes in the U.S. Gymnastics all-around. Young has also helped the OU men's team to two NCAA Championships as an assistant coach. A chance to compete at the Olympic Games would be the ultimate culmination of his career as a gymnast.

“It has been a long process that started back in April with the national qualifier from which 40 gymnasts was cut down to the seven that remain now still competing for a shot at Athens,” said Young. “I am just thankful to still be a part of this process among so many great athletes. It is such an involved process to make the team and you have to enjoy the ride. So far I am very pleased with the results after advancing to each level. No matter what happens, I have had a successful career and I am happy with my accomplishments.”

Young and Williams left Norman on July 11 and although the camp runs from July 11-18, the selection committee has to have the team finalized on Thursday, July 15. The remaining three days will be used for the completed team to practice at the Olympic Training Center.

“We are still happy to be playing the game,” added Williams. “I think Guard's position is strengthened with this opportunity at the camp since he has five really good events. We will work hard on everything except for the one event he will not compete on, the high bar. He is very solid on floor and for the last two months we have been working on a more difficult dismount on the rings which should help raise his score. Guard is capable of helping the Olympic team on two events and possibly three events and that is what we will try to prove at the camp next week.”

The other gymnasts looking to claim the available spots include Raj Bhavsar, David Durante, Steve McCain, Todd Thornton and Sean Townsend.

Click Here for more information on the U.S. gymnastics' teams.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

U.S. Olympic Team Set To Be Finalized Thursday

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