USA Gymnastics - 2008 Olympic Team Trials

June 18, 2008

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Former Illinois great and current assistant coach Justin Spring will compete this week at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials, held June 19-21, in Philadelphia, Pa. at the Wachovia Center. Spring, the 2008 U.S. Parallel Bars Champion, looks to become the first Illinois Olympian since Dominick Minicucci in 1992.

"Heading to the Olympic Trials, I'm feeling at the top of my game," Spring said. "I'm ready to compete and feel that training through injuries for the past two years has prepared me for this. I'm looking forward to competing and seeing what happens. No matter what, I know I've done my best."

The Burke, Va., native is set to compete on high bar, parallel bars, still rings, and vault. Spring, along with 14 other gymnasts will be vying for a spot on the six-member U.S. Olympic Team. Selection to the Olympic team is based on performance at the Olympic Trials as well as the 2008 Visa U.S, Championships, which were held May 22-24. The men's selection procedures specify that the top two all-arounders after Trials (40% USAs + 60% Trials) earn Olympic spots if they also finish in the top three on at least three events.

Day one of the men's competition will begin at 6 p.m. CT on Thursday, June 19. Day two of competition, Saturday, June 21, will be televised live on NBC from 3:30 - 5 p.m. CT. Scores from the two days of competition will be combined for final results. For complete coverage of Spring's Olympic bid, stay tuned to fightingillini.com.

Men's Olympic Trials Roster
Guillermo Alvarez
Alexander Artemev
Raj Bhavsar
David Durante
Sean Golden
Joseph Hagerty
Morgan Hamm
Jonathan Horton
Tim McNeil
David Sender
Justin Spring
Kevin Tan
Yewki Tomita
Sean Townsend

*Paul Hamm will not be competing at the Olympic Trials due to a broken hand. He will petition directly to the Olympic Team.