High Hopes for Horton, U.S.

AARHUS, Denmark (WCSN.com) -- Jonathan Horton, the reigning Tyson American Cup and NCAA all-around champion, is about to take another bold step up the competition ladder in men's gymnastics.

Horton is one of the six men who comprise a U.S. team that will be on display Oct. 17-21 at the 2006 World Championships in Aarhus, Denmark. It's the biggest stage yet for the 20-year-old Horton, and a solid performance could make the University of Oklahoma gymnast one to watch as projections intensify leading to the 2008 Olympics.

"Since this is the biggest and probably most important competition I've ever been in, I would like to go out there and just be comfortable with the setting," Horton said. "I want to get comfortable with the idea that the best countries in the world are there."

Horton's primary focus is on doing his part within the context of the U.S. team to help produce group success.

"I'm with an unbelievably talented team," Horton said. "My expectations are just to go out there and hit my routines and be confident while I'm out there on the floor. And for the team to feel the same way. I want to be there to support everyone. If we have a team that is ready to back each other up every moment from the beginning to the end I think we can really be successful."

Horton warmed up for Denmark by finishing second to Alexander Artemev in the all-around at the 2006 Visa Nationals in St. Paul, Minn. Horton won the floor exercise, tied for third on the horizontal bar and was fourth in the still rings.

Following a training camp with the U.S. team, he's ready to strive for an even higher efficiency level in Aarhus.

See Full Article | WCSN.com | Postcards from Aarhus

With Paul Hamm off center stage, the U.S. team will be showcasing its next wave of gymnastics talent, and Horton has shown the skill and work ethic to put himself on the fast track. Horton views the World Championships as a steppingstone to what he hopes will be U.S. prominence the next couple of years.

"It's unbelievably important," Horton said. "It's kind of the next step toward the Olympic Games. In a way, this competition is bigger than the Olympics, because there are more teams and more athletes. I have never been to a Worlds, but I'm guessing that if I'm confident and comfortable when I'm on the floor at Worlds, I'll feel the same maybe at the Olympic Games."

Horton, a member of the Senior National team since 2004, has come a long way since his indoctrination to gymnastics at age 5 in Houston. Horton is the son of Al, an engineer, and Margo, a realtor. He competed for Cypress Academy in Houston before moving on to compete for the Oklahoma Sooners. There have been numerous accomplishments along the path for the college junior, and U.S. officials hope Horton is just getting started.

After the Nationals were concluded and the U.S. named its men's team for the World Championships, Horton and Co. went to work at the training camp to collectively smooth out the rough edges.

"All of our guys looked better at the camp than they did at Nationals," observed U.S. team coordinator Ron Brant. "You can tell they are gearing up for this meet."

Horton said there's a strong bond with U.S. teammates Artemev, Guillermo Alvarez, David Sender, Clay Strother and Kevin Tan.

"At the camp, we were in an environment where we were basically together the whole week," Horton said. "Inside the gym, we'd do routines together and get each other pumped up. If somebody falls, you are there to back them up and tell them to get up there and finish off a strong routine.

"That's really the best thing you can do for a competition like this: Get to know each other and figure out what works best."

The U.S. team prepared for early morning competition with a series of early morning workouts at the camp. For Horton and some of his teammates who had never trained in that manner before, the adjustment was significant.

"We've had to get used to it and teach our bodies how to train in the morning," Horton said.

Now, the U.S. men feel they are ready to uphold the standards of the American male gymnasts of years past. Horton could be a key component in that equation.

"I definitely feel I can contribute a lot in several of the events," Horton said. "Floor, rings, high bar and maybe even parallel bars. Of course, I struggle on some events like pommel horse, but I think I can contribute a lot in those other events and, hopefully, be consistent and put up some scores that will help the team out a lot."

If those Denmark expectations are met, gymnasts around the world will know that the Oklahoma kid is more than OK.

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By Robert Falkoff
WCSN.com

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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