Horton, U.S. Fourth at Worlds

Sept. 6, 2007

NORMAN, Okla. - Oklahoma senior Jonathan Horton and the U.S. men finished fourth in Thursday's team finals at the 2007 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Stuttgart, Germany. The USA finished with a score of 272.275.

China won the gold medal with a dominating 281.900, while Japan claimed silver with a 277.025. Event host Germany took the bronze medal (273.525).

The fourth-place finish was a huge statement for a young but talented U.S. team that missed the team finals at last year's World Championships, finishing 13th overall.

"We've demonstrated that we're medal contenders heading into the Olympic Games," said Steve Penny, president of USA Gymnastics. "That's exactly where we wanted to be."

Horton turned in another strong performance for the American squad, competing on four events. In the team finals, three gymnasts from each team compete on an apparatus with all three scores counting toward the team total. The only collegiate athlete on the squad, Horton turned in Team USA's top score on high bar (14.875), as well as sterling routines on rings (15.150) and parallel bars (15.400).

AT&T Blue Room | WCSN.com | Team Results | Individual Results

With the U.S. standing sixth going into its final rotation on floor exercise, Horton registered his best routine of the day, a 15.625. The total was the best American score on floor and the fifth-best of the day. Led by Horton's performance, the Americans posted the highest team total (46.800) on the event and jumped into fourth place overall.

"I feel great about today," Horton said. "We achieved something special. We showed the world that the USA has a great team and that we are in the hunt and could make the podium.

"This was a great experience for us for next year, and (missing the bronze medal) will just fuel every one of the guys. We know we can do better and I look forward to the next opportunity to show what we can do."

Horton's week is not complete, however, as he will compete in Friday's all-around finals scheduled for 7 a.m. (CT). He was the top American and finished ninth overall in the all-around standings in the preliminary round that wrapped up on Tuesday.

"I think Jon has been gaining confidence as he goes," said OU head coach and U.S. assistant Mark Williams. "This will definitely be a test of his endurance, having a third competition, especially after the pressure of competing with the team. But he's trained for this kind of situation and I think he'll deal with it just like he has the last few days. He'll go out and give it his best and just see where he finishes up. He's certainly feeling more confident and comfortable that he's one of the best gymnasts in this competition."

WCSN.com will provide a free webcast, both live and on-demand, of Friday's all-around finals.

Gymnastics fans can also access exclusive coverage of the 2007 World Championships as part of AT&T's Blue Room's, "USA Gymnastics: Behind the Team" which will provide video clips from Stuttgart, including post-competition interviews.

Also, for the first time since 2003, the World Championships will be broadcast on network television. NBC Sports will air a two-hour presentation of the World Championships at 4 p.m. (ET) on Oct. 7.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Related News

Related Videos

Sponsors