Olympic Update: Brooks Voted Team Captain

NORMAN – Team USA spent last week working out as a team at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. The team had two intrasquad scrimmages, dealt with a major setback and named a captain.

“We did what we need to do at our preparation camp,” Team USA and Oklahoma men's gymnastics head coach Mark Williams said. “We had two practice intrasquads with the Olympic guys. We feel pretty good about getting down to Rio, adjusting, getting comfortable and being confident in what we need to do for the Games.”

During the week-long camp, former Oklahoma gymnast Chris Brooks was selected by his teammates to serve as the captain of the U.S. Men's Olympic Gymnastics Team. At 29, Brooks is the oldest member of the five-man Team USA roster. He served as an alternate for the team in London in 2012 and will be making his Olympic debut in Rio.

"He can be a tremendous energy behind the team and provide some great leadership along the way.”
- Head Coach Mark Williams

“Chris has a ton of energy,” Williams said. “He is enthusiastic about gymnastics and is passionate. He was a captain of the OU program in his senior year. He is boisterous and vocal. He can be a tremendous energy behind the team and provide some great leadership along the way. He is the senior member of the team and was even a little bit of a darkhorse to make the team. He has had many setbacks through injuries and it's pretty uncommon for a 29-year-old to be making the Olympic team for the first time.”

Brooks demonstrated his enthusiasm and spirit at the U.S. Olympic Trials where he went 12-for-12 to cap a 24-for-24 performance in the four qualifying meets. Brooks will be a unifying and uplifting presence for the team in Rio.

One of the most compelling storylines with Team USA at the U.S. Olympic Trials was that of John Orozco. Orozco was very emotional after being selected to the team and was anxious to put his struggles at the 2012 London Games behind him. His second go-round at the Games was not to be however, as he injured his left knee while training on high bar during the week in Colorado Springs. Orozco was diagnosed with a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and meniscus and was forced to withdraw from the team.

“It is always difficult to replace an Olympic team member,” said Kevin Mazeika, the national team coordinator for the U.S. Men's National Team. “John's injury is unfortunate and heartbreaking news, but he is handling the situation like the true professional and champion that he is. He's fully supporting the team and its goals moving ahead.”

Alternate Danell Leyva was chosen to take Orozco's place on the team. Leyva, the 2012 Olympic all-around bronze medalist, won the horizontal bar silver medal at the 2015 World Championships, his fifth World medal. Leyva's resume this quad includes 2014 World team bronze and parallel bars silver medalist. He won the 2011 World parallel bars title. Additionally, Leyva is a four-time U.S. parallel bars (2010-12, 2014) and three-time horizontal bar (2009, 2011-12) champion. At the recent U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Men's Gymnastics, Leyva was second on the parallel bars and third on the high bar.

“That was pretty difficult 36 hours to have to go through,” Williams said. “By the last intrasquad I felt like the team was getting united again and moving forward. We certainly have our thoughts with John who is going through a very hard and difficult injury, particularly for it to come up at this time.”

Williams and the rest of Team USA travel to Houston, Texas early next week to go through Team USA processing before heading south to Rio. Fans won't have to wait long to get their gymnastics fix at the Olympics. The opening ceremonies take place on August 5 with the team qualifying beginning on August 6. Team finals are slated for August 8.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Olympic Update: Brooks Voted Team Captain

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