GymJam to Test Resolve of U.S. Men

Having returned from the Sydney Olympics without a medal, U.S. gymnasts know they can’t wait a year or two to rebuild their confidence and sharpen their skills. That process will take a major step forward today, at the GymJam Men’s National Qualifier at UC Santa Barbara’s Robertson Gym.

The top all-around and event qualifiers will advance to the U.S. championships in Philadelphia, Aug. 8-11. From there, the top performers will qualify for the world championships in Ghent, Belgium, Oct. 28-Nov. 4. Olympic and national team members from last year already have qualified but several will compete nonetheless, including Olympians Stephen McCain and Sean Townsend.

The competition will also determine the remainder of the U.S. team for the World University Games, Aug. 22-Sept. 1, in Beijing.

“There has not been a slowdown on the men’s side at all,” said Chris Waller, a 1992 Olympian who runs gymnastics camps and is host of the meet. “We know everybody in the world takes the year after the Olympics as an opportunity to take a much-needed rest, but our athletes see this as a huge opportunity to win medals at the world championships. We’re adamant that Americans want to take advantage of that opportunity.”

Waller said 117 athletes have entered, including 12 junior-level gymnasts who have an outside chance to make the world team. Their chances have been helped by injuries to Olympians Blaine Wilson (shoulder), Morgan Hamm (rotator cuff) and Paul Hamm (injured right tibia). Morgan Hamm might compete at the national meet, but Paul Hamm and Wilson are out indefinitely.

Townsend, who won two medals at an international meet in Paris in March, is expected to win the all-around competition, but the field is otherwise considered wide open.

“There could be some major upsets,” Waller said. “As much as anything, it’s a psychological battle.”