22. Juli 2010  
Houston, USA  
Artistic Gymnastics

2004 Olympic Champion Paul Hamm plans a Comeback

... will Hamm saddle again the horse?

The Houston Chronical reports this week, that the 2004 all-around Olympic gold medalist Paul HAMM (27) plans to return to competition 2011 January in hopes of qualifying for the USA Gymnastics men's national team and competing at the 2012 London Olympics.
Paul Hamm said to the media, that he has left his job in the financial industry and hopes to train at his old gym in his hometown of Waukesha, Wis., (USA) or at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. His likely first competition would be next January at the 2011 Winter Cup meet in Las Vegas.

Paul Hamm, the first US all-around World Champion in history (> Anaheiim, 2003)

Hamm competed at the Olympics in 2000 and in 2004, when he won the men's all-around ( ... by 0.012 points, the closest finish in men's Olympics history!) but then had to deal with controversy after it was revealed that he benefited from scoring errors for one of his competitors. 
He qualified for the 2008 team but had to withdraw because of a hand injury.

Hamm said he will decide later this year whether to train in Wisconsin with his former coach, Stacy Maloney, or to move to Colorado Springs.
He started general weight training and cardiovascular work this spring and spent some time in the gym before suffering a sprained right shoulder, which has limited recent workouts to strength training and recovery. 
All-around asset Hamm said he will train all six events and believes his versatility can contribute to the U.S. team, especially since the International Gymnastics Federation has reduced team sizes from six gymnasts to five.
"There's a very large chance that I don't win the Olympic gold medal (in 2012), but I still think I can produce some great gymnastics and help the team and go after a gold medal", Hamm said. 
*source: US media,  Houston Chronicle