June 6, 2008

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - The 2008 Visa Championships held at the Reliant Center in Houston Texas on May 24 will air this Sunday, June 8 from 1-3 p.m. CT on NBC. Former Illinois great and current assistant coach Justin Spring took home the gold on parallel bars with a combined score from the two days of competition of 30.900. The title marked Spring's third national title, with his other two gold medals coming on high bar in 2005 and 2007.

In addition to being crowned parallel bars champion, the Burke, Va., native was named to the 14-member U.S. National Team for the eighth time. Spring and 13 other gymnasts will head to Olympic Trials on June 19-22 in Philadelphia, Pa., at the Wachovia Center. The Olympic team is then chosen based on the gymnast's combined performances at the Visa Championships as well as the Olympic Trials. The 2008 Beijing Olympics will be held Aug. 8-24 at the National Indoor Stadium.