Paul Hamm      Birth Date: 09/24/1982 Program: Men's Artistic Level: Senior Residence: Columbus, OH Club: Ohio State University Coach: Miles Avery Biography At the 2008 Visa Championships, he broke the fourth metacarpal in his right hand during the first day of competition. He underwent surgery and his petition to the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team for men's gymnastics was accepted, but he withdrew from the team because he hadn't fully recovered in time to compete in Beijing. He returned to competitive gymnastics at the 2007 Visa Championships, after taking time off after the 2004 Olympic Games to finish his education. In 2008, Hamm won the all-around title at the Tyson American Cup, the Pacific Rim Gymnastics Championships presented by Gillette Venus and the 2008 Winter Cup (his first all-around competition since the 2004 Olympic Games). He was named USA Gymnastics’ Sportsman of the Year for 2008. Hamm is the son of Sandy and Cecily Hamm, and Morgan is his twin brother. His older sister Elizabeth (Betsy) is a former member of USA Gymnastics Senior National Team. She competed for the University of Florida, where she became the NCAA balance beam champion in 1998 and was a seven-time All American. His father was an All-American springboard diver. Hamm earned his accounting degree from Ohio State in June 2007. Personal Information Hometown: Waukesha, WI Began Gymnastics In: 1989 School: Ohio State University (2007) Major: Accounting National Competition Results 2008 Visa Championships, Houston, Texas: withdrew after first day of competition due to injury 2008 Winter Cup Challenge, Las Vegas, Nev.: 1st-AA, FX, PB; 2nd-PH, HB 2007 Visa Championships, San Jose, Calif.: 1st-FX; 4th-PH 2004 Visa Championships, Nashville, Tenn.: 1st-AA, FX, HB; 2nd-PH, PB(T) 2004 Winter Cup, Las Vegas, Nev.: 1st-PH; 3rd-HB 2003 National Championships, Milwaukee, Wis.: 1st-AA, PH, HB; 2nd-FX, PB(T) 2002 U.S. Championships, Cleveland, Ohio: 1st-AA, PH, VT; 2nd-FX; 3rd-PB; 6th-SR(T) 2002 Winter Cup Challenge, Las Vegas, Nev.: 1st-FX, VT; 2nd-AA 2001 National Championships, Philadelphia, Pa.: 2000 John Hancock U.S. Gymnastics Championships, St. Louis, Mo.: 3rd-AA 2000 Winter Cup Challenge, Las Vegas, Nev.: 3rd-FX(T), PH 1999 World Team Trials, Kansas City, Mo.: 1999 John Hancock U.S. Gymnastics Championships, Sacramento, Calif.: 1999 Men's Junior Olympic National Championships, Houston, Texas: 1999 Winter Cup Challenge, Las Vegas, Nev.: International Competition Results 2008 Tyson American Cup, New York, N.Y.: 1st-AA 2008 Pacific Rim Gymnastics Championships, San Jose, Calif.: 1st-Team, AA, PH, PB(T); 2nd-FX; 3rd-HB; 5th-SR 2004 Olympic Games, Athens, Greece: 1st-AA; 2nd-Team, HB 2004 Pacific Alliance Championships, Honolulu, Hawaii: 1st-Team, AA, VT, HB; 2nd-FX; 3rd-PH(T), PB 2004 World Cup, Lyon, France: 2004 Visa American Cup, New York, N.Y.: 2nd-SR; 3rd-AA, VT(T), PB 2003 World Championships, Anaheim, Calif.: 1st-AA, FX(T); 2nd-Team 2002 Individual Event World Championships, Debrecen, Hungary: 3rd-FX 2002 Sino-American Team Competition, Beijing, China: 2002 Pacific Alliance Championships, Vancouver, B.C., Canada: 1st-Team, AA, VT, HB(T); 3rd-FX 2002 Visa American Cup, Orlando, Fla.: 2nd-AA 2001 World Championships, Ghent, Belgium: 2nd-Team; 7th-AA 2001 Pontiac American Team Cup, Honolulu, Hawaii: 1st-Team 2000 Olympic Games, Syndey, Australia: 5th-Team 1999 Pontiac International Team Championships, Richmond, Va.: 1st-Team, AA LEGEND: AA = All Around | FX = Floor Exercise | PH = Pommel Horse | SR = Still Rings | VT = Vault | PB = Parallel Bars | HB = Horizontal Bars | (T) = Tie