Artemev’s comeback comes along

ST. PAUL, Minn. – It had been about 1 1/2 years since Sasha Artemev last flew over a vault in competition. It had been about 1 1/2 days since he decided he’d give it a try at nationals.

Good choice.

Still on the mend from a devastating shoulder injury, Artemev threw his hat into the all-around and surprisingly found himself in the lead Wednesday night after a rugged preliminary round at the U.S. men’s gymnastics championships.

Two years ago, before the injury, Artemev was considered a prime candidate to someday take over for Paul and Morgan Hamm as the next great male American gymnast. The injury dampened those expectations and, in his return to the big stage, Artemev wasn’t considered a favorite – even with the Hamms not competing while they decide whether to return for 2008.

But using his high-flying pommel horse routine to set the pace, and taking advantage of mistakes by almost everyone else, Artemev finished with 89.45 points, .05 ahead of Guillermo Alvarez and .25 in front of Jonathan Horton.

“No one’s expecting me to win, but slowly and steadily, I just kept creeping up there,” Artemev said. “It feels great.”