Hamm takes third straight gym title

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Paul Hamm made gymnastics look as easy as slipping another gold medal around his neck.

Barely pushed by the rest of America’s best, Hamm won his third straight national gymnastics title Friday night, his first step en route to the Athens Olympics, where he hopes to win an even more significant championship.

“I won’t celebrate as much this year,” Hamm said after a 1.7-point victory, a blowout by gymnastics standards, over Brett McClure.

In fact, the real drama at the U.S. Gymnastics Championships had little to do with Hamm, and lots to do with the other 31 athletes, all vying for one of 14 spots at the Olympic trials, June 24-27 in Anaheim, Calif.

Hamm’s twin brother, Morgan, ensured his spot by finishing third and Todd Thornton was fourth. All of them were looking up at Paul Hamm, who took control of this meet during preliminaries and never left much doubt that he would win.

“He’s amazing. It’s hard to believe sometimes that he’s my brother,” Morgan Hamm said.

Sean Townsend, the man Hamm supplanted as national champion in 2002, also advanced to the trials, along with Raj Bhavsar, Stephen McCain and Alexander Artemev.

Scores from nationals will be combined with scores from trials, and the top two finishers will be guaranteed a spot on the six-man Olympic squad. The other four spots will be determined by a selection committee.