Paul Hamm Possibly Sidelined with Injury

Paul Hamm has injured his right hand after an unexpected fall from the parallel bars.  Not only might he be unable to complete the U.S. gymnastics championships, there could be a chance that he will not be able to participate in the Olympic trials. 

Hamm, who was crowned the 2004 all-around champion at the Athens Olympics, was still leading the event after Thursday night but is having x-rays this morning to determine whether he can go on.  Unlike many athletes, Hamm refuses to put his health at risk to compete: “I will not beat up my body and cause more damage just to get to the trials,” Hamm said.

It sounds like it could be serious.  Hamm described hearing a “small popping sound” and immediately grabbed his wrist.  “This is not something that will make me sit out of the Olympics, but it might make me sit for Saturday. If it’s something very little, I’ll compete Saturday. If I think it is something worse, I’ll hold off until trials.”

I wasn’t able to watch the first part but I will be tuning in to the second half of the competition on Saturday. 

The Olympic trials run from June 19-22 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  I’ll have my fingers crossed for him, just in case he can’t do it for himself.  The Olympics would be very dull for me without him – get better, Paul!

UPDATE: It has been confirmed – Paul has broken a bone in his right hand which will take about four weeks to recover.  Since this will likely keep him from competing in the Olympic trials, he will likely have to petition for a spot on the U.S. team.

Despite the fall on parallel bars that caused the injury Thursday night, Hamm finished preliminaries with a score of 93.450, almost four points better than anyone else.

That just makes this news even worse…

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