Twin Gymnasts Go to Sydney

B O S T O N, Aug. 20 -- The U.S. Olympic men’s gymnastics team will be one-third Hamm.

That’s because identical twin brothers Paul and Morgan Hamm will fill two of the six spots on the team, becoming the first set of American twin gymnasts to compete together in the Olympics. Their outstanding performances Saturday night at the Olympic trials solidified their dream.

“It’s a mindboggling feeling,” their mother, Cecily Hamm, said Saturday night after seeing 10 years of work reach a conclusion beyond what anyone could have imagined even 12 months ago.

“The last few weeks have been so long. It seemed like too muchto hope for.”

Roethlisberger Mounts Comeback

Cecily Hamm’s enthusiasm was matched perhaps only by four-time national champion John Roethlisberger, who was all but counted out after three huge gaffes at the trials Thursday night had dropped him to 12th place.

But he was downright spectacular Saturday night, sticking his vault routine and cruising through a floor exercise that had given him trouble at the three previous meets.

“It’s the sweetest, by far,” said the 30-year-old, who broke into tears upon hearing he’d made his third Olympic team. “Just what I had to do to get heremade it the sweetest.”

Dashed Dreams for Natalie

The team was determined by combining scores from last month’s nationals and this week’s Olympic trials, with the top four finishers automatically earning slots. Those spots went to five-time champion Blaine Wilson, who finished first overall with 116.545 points, Paul Hamm, Sean Townsend and Stephen McCain.

A selection committee, headed by U.S. coach Peter Kormann, picked the remaining two “at-large” gymnasts who could shore up the team’s weaknesses. Those picks? Seventh-place finisher and rings master Roethlisberger, and Morgan Hamm, who finished sixth.

Not making the team was Jamie Natalie, although his fifth-place finish put him higher than the two “at-large” gymnasts. But Natalie took the turn of events in stride.