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06 Jun 2008 11:00 PM

Morgan Hamm (2008 Gymnastics Hopeful)

by Heather Long | More from this Blogger

Welcome to our Focus on the Olympics articles that introduces you to our Olympic athletes and hopefuls that will be competing in Beijing this summer. Morgan and his brother Paul were featured as two of People's "Most Eligible Bachelors" in 2004.

Meet Morgan Hamm

Morgan Carl Hamm was born to Sandy, a former All-American diver, and Cecily. Their older sister Betsey competed in gymnastics for Iowa State University. Morgan is 30 minutes older than Paul. The twins grew up on a farm in Waukesha, Wis., and trained on makeshift equipment. Their father, Sandy, built a pommel horse from an old maple tree and foam and leather from automobile upholstery; rings were hung in the attic; a stairway railing was made into parallel bars; and they set up a trampoline in the barn.

Why Root For Him?

Morgan helped anchor the 2003 World Championships team that won the team silver medal. At the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, he competed alongside twin brother Paul and won the silver medal in the team event. Following Athens, both Paul and Morgan took time off to focus on their studies at The Ohio State University. They announced their return to competitive gymnastics in Feb. 2007. In October, Morgan successfully underwent surgery for a torn pectoral muscle but he expects to make a full recovery in time to qualify for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

Performance Record

• 2004 Olympic Games team silver medalist
• 2004 Visa American Cup floor exercise & pommel horse champion, high bar & vault bronze medalist
• 2004 Winter Cup Challenge pommel horse silver medalist
• 2003 FIG World Championships team silver medalist
• 2000 Olympic Games team member
• Two-time U.S. National Championships floor exercise champion (2002-03)

The U.S. Gymnastics Team trials take place in June 19 to June 22 in Philadelphia, PA.

Learn more about Heather Long

Heather Long is 35 years old and currently lives in Wylie, Texas. She has been a freelance writer for six years. Her husband and she met while working together at America Online over ten years ago.

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