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05 Jun 2008 11:00 PM

Paul 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. Paul and his brother Morgan were featured as two of People's "Most Eligible Bachelors" in 2004. .

Meet Paul Hamm

Paul Elbert Hamm was born to Sandy, a former All-American diver, and Cecily. Their older sister Bets competed in gymnastics for Iowa State University. Both Paul and his twin brother Morgan are documenting their return to competitive gymnastics on the road to the Beijing Olympic Games. Fans can watch their progress by downloading clips of the twins practicing and performing new tricks. Following his success in Athens, Paul, along with Morgan, teammate Blaine Wilson, Olympic legend Shannon Miller and others embarked on a post-Games tour called the 2004 Rock & Roll Gymnastics Championships Plans to pursue a career in business

Why Root For Him?

In 2003, he became the first American man to win the all-around title at the FIG World Championships. At the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, he competed alongside twin brother Morgan and won the silver medal in the team event and the high bar. He made an astounding comeback from 12th place after falling on the vault, and was awarded gold in the individual all-around competition - becoming the only American man in Olympic history to win the gold medal in that event.

Following Athens, both Paul and Morgan took time off to focus on their studies at Ohio State University. They announced their return to competitive gymnastics in February 2007, and hope to qualify for the Beijing 2008 team.

Performance Record

• Three-time U.S. National all-around Champion (2002, 2003, 2004)
• 2007 Visa Championships floor exercise champion
• 2004 Olympic Games all-around champion; team & high bar silver medalist
• 2004 Visa Championships all-around, floor exercise & high bar champion
• 2003 FIG World Championships all-around & floor exercise champion
• 2003 FIG International Gymnast of the Year

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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