May 24, 2007

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Illinois assistant coach Justin Spring is set to return to international competition on May 25-26, when he competes at a World Cup Meet in Moscow, Russia. The 12-time All-American and four-time NCAA Champion is returning to competition for the first time in a year, taking on the world's best this coming weekend.

"The best reward for all of your hard work is competition, so I am ready to get back out there and compete," Spring said about his return. "This is our only chance as gymnasts to show what all of our hard work and dedication is going to and to show that off."

Spring returns to the gym after suffering a season-ending injury last May in international competition and has since undergone three surgeries in preparation for the 2007 World Championships, and inevitably the 2008 Olympics.

"This is a big meet for me," Spring said. "This is my first time back in about a year, so this meet is going to be good preparation for the World Championships meet coming later this year. It also will be a good way for me to see where I am at right now, physically and mentally."

The 2006 Nissen-Emery Award winner is coming off a weeklong training camp held at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., and couldn't be anymore ready to get back in the gym for competition. While Spring's expectations are always high, he sees this meet as a warm up to getting back into top-notch and Olympic shape. The Burke, Va., native is scheduled to compete on both high and parallel bars.

"I am going to be playing the competition by ear," Spring said about his expectations for this weekend. "This meet is bringing together the best of the best. Right now I am still battling to get back into top form. I have been working on getting stronger. Physically, right now, I have been doing a lot of repetitions in practice to get ready. When we get to the meet, it will be a meet decision on whether I water down my routine or go for it. Overall, I just want to get some competition under my belt before USA Championships in August."

The international meet brings together two to three of the best competitors from every country into one event. Each nation selects its competitors for the international contest from their current national team roster, making the field highly competitive and deep on every apparatus.

A full recap of Spring's efforts will be available on www.fightingillini.com , following the conclusion of the competition on May 26.