Allergic reaction sidelines U.S. gymnast Hamm (Sports Illustrated) Morgan Hamm dropped out of a key gymnastics meet Wednesday night after an allergic reaction that restricted his breathing, meaning he'll have to file paperwork to stay on the path toward his third Olympics. Publish Date: Thu, 24 Apr 2008 03:26:05 GMT Read more...

USA men's team picking its Olympic Trials gymnasts for the USA Beijing Olympic team. Weird event for Morgan Hamm after two events: [quote]COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) -- Morgan Hamm dropped out of a key gymnastics meet Wednesday night after an allergic reaction that restricted his breathing, meaning he'll have to file paperwork to stay on the path toward his third Olympics. Hamm planned on competing in four of six events in the qualifier for next month's national championships, but dropped out after only two -- before he had accumulated enough points to guarantee himself one of the 14 spots up for grabs. "I was on the floor, just gasping for air, trying to get some oxygen," he said, his voice still hoarse nearly an hour after he pulled out of the meet. Hamm, in his first true competition since tearing his pectoral muscle last fall, said he felt his throat tightening after warm-ups and was having trouble breathing and starting to cramp. His coach, Miles Avery, pulled him from the meet and got him to the doctor at the Olympic Training Center, who gave him medicine. "I saw him suffering out there," Avery said. "I was just yelling, 'Be smart, be smart.' We didn't want him to force anything and make things worse." Hamm said he was feeling better after taking the medication; he didn't know what caused the allergic reaction.[/quote] Others who pulled out of meet: [quote]Justin Spring, coming back after major knee surgery, dropped out after turning his ankle on the floor exercise -- also two routines into his meet. Unlike Hamm, Spring is a member of the national team and has a spot guaranteed at nationals. Same for Blaine Wilson, the five-time national champion who is nursing a sore ankle of his own. He participated in warmups, but decided not to go. "I heard what Spring did to his ankle, and I just thought, 'Don't mess with it,"' Wilson said. "I'm already qualified. I need to get healthy, get ready." [/quote] Good decision for Blaine Wilson. Petitions will be decided Friday to qualify for nationals. SI: "Allergic reaction sidelines Hamm" http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/olympics/04/23/bc.oly.gym.morganhamm.ap/index.html?eref=si_more

[quote]A minimum of 14 athletes from the U.S. Men

Men who qualified for the 2008 Visa Championships 1. Todd Thornton, Houston/U.S. Olympic Training Center, 156 2. Ryan Lieberman, Lake Forest, Ill./Stanford University, 106 3. Danell Leyva, Miami/Universal Gymnastics, 106 4. Alexy Bilozertchev, Hilliard, Ohio/OSU Boys Team, 105 5. Andrew Elkind, Cherry Hill, N.J./U.S. Olympic Training Center, 104 6. Josh Dixon, San Jose, Calif./Stanford University, 96 7. David Henderson, Crosby, Texas/U.S. Olympic Training Center, 90 8. Joe Catrambone, Deptford, N.J./University of Michigan, 88 9. Tyler Mizoguchi, Houston /Houston Gymnastics Academy, 87 10. Edward Mesa, Cooper City, Fla./Universal Gymnastics, 87 11. Jamie Henderson, Crosby, Texas/University of Oklahoma-Gattaca, 83 12. Tim Gentry, Plano, Texas/Stanford University, 82 13. Clay Strother, Jasper, Texas/Team Chevron, 77 14. Justin Laury, Marietta, Ga./Houston Gymnastics Academy, 72 2008 U.S. Men