Gymnastics: Paul and Morgan Hamm, United States

Had life worked out a little differently, maybe the reigning world champion would be Morgan Hamm instead of his twin brother, Paul. Or maybe the brothers would be equals, a rivalry that would make this Olympic gymnastics competition one for the ages.

Time is wasted on “what ifs,” though. Morgan is one of the world’s best gymnasts in his own right, and he’s fiercely proud of his brother’s accomplishments.

“It doesn’t really bother me, for some reason,” Morgan said of living in his brother’s shadow. “I’m proud of him for what he’s done, and I just try and stay up to his par.”

Paul Hamm, the younger of the twins by 30 minutes, has always had a slight edge on his brother in gymnastics. Paul took the sport up first, and he has a knack for mastering tricks that few others can match.

Morgan wasn’t far behind, though. The brothers were just 17 when they made their first Olympic team in 2000, and they wound up being one of the few highlights for the Americans in Sydney. Paul was 14th in the all-around, and Morgan made the event finals on floor, finishing seventh. Consistent as metronomes, with gravity-defying athleticism, they provided a glimpse of brighter days ahead.

The Hamm brothers and their teammates will go for gold in today’s finals.