Paul Hamm

Olympic Gold Medalist Paul Hamm Highlighted on List of “15 Most Clutch Performances in U.S. Summer Olympic History“

Bleacher Report

Olympic glory is a one-shot deal and, as such, the Games make a perfect stage for clutch performances.

For most athletes, you go. You take your result, good or bad. You accept that four years from now someone younger, faster and stronger will have relegated you to competitive obsolescence. Imagine then the strength of mind it takes to perform at one’s best in the context of such finality.

Consider what the following American athletes had to overcome, both within and without, to become their very best selves when the moment demanded it.

Paul Hamm
Although it has been obscured in later years by the scoring controversy over his gold medal, there’s no denying Paul Hamm’s resolve in the most crucial moments of the 2004 men’s gymnastics individual all-around competition.

After a spectacular fall on the vault, Hamm stood 12th with just two rotations left. The podium was a long shot, much less Olympic gold. (read more)

Alan Abrahamson, TeamUSA.org

A couple days ago, Paul Hamm announced his retirement.

Is he the most accomplished male American gymnast ever?

Or is he the greatest difference-maker of all time in the U.S. men’s gymnastics program?

Or — both?

There are those who would say that Kurt Thomas still holds the most profound legacy. In 1978, Thomas was the first American to

win a gold medal in the floor exercise at a world championship. In 1979, he became the first gymnast to receive the James E. Sullivan

Award, given to the best amateur athlete in the United States.

Thomas was expected to do

Even so, Conner said, “In terms of hard-core credentials — you can’t deny Paul’s.”minate at the 1980 Moscow Olympics. Though the United States boycotted, Thomas nonetheless set the stage for “a lot of success, including ours,” said Bart Conner, who himself won gold on the parallel bars at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics and was part of the gold medal-winning U.S. team at those 1984 Games.

Is that where the debate starts? Or ends?

Simply put, you truly can’t deny Hamm’s credentials.

He is the 2003 all-around world champion. He is the 2004 all-around Olympic champion.

In Athens in 2004, he led the United States to a silver medal, the Americans’ first medal at an Olympics in 20 years. He was the rock of silver-medal teams at the 2001 and 2003 worlds.

He earned five medals at the worlds. He has three Olympic medals.

It can be difficult now for many to remember the furor that enveloped Hamm amid those 2004 Olympic Games. A fall on the vault left him in 12th, with only two events left. Incredibly, he rallied to win gold. (read more)

INDIANAPOLIS, March 27, 2012 – 2004 Olympic all-around champion Paul Hamm of Waukesha, Wis., today announced his retirement from competitive gymnastics.  Hamm was the first U.S. man to win the World and Olympic all-around titles, and his career includes three Olympic and five World medals.  He will enroll in the MBA program at Marquette University in the fall.

“I have decided to stop training in competitive gymnastics and end my efforts as a potential member of the 2012 Olympic Men’s Gymnastics Team,” said Hamm in a statement. “My career has far exceeded my expectations. I hope I am remembered for my gymnastic accomplishments, and as a kind person. Gymnastics has given me so much and now it is my turn to give back. I will always have gymnastics in my heart, and I will continue to stay involved with the governing body and all aspects of the sport.”

“Paul’s achievements in gymnastics and contributions to the men’s program were significant in helping the United States emerge as a world power,” said Steve Penny, president of USA Gymnastics.  “Becoming the World and Olympic all-around champion was an unprecedented accomplishment for our country. Not only did he enjoy individual success, but he also was a force in our team’s success and raised the bar for men’s gymnastics in the United States. We wish him the best of success at Marquette, and I am confident that he will continue to contribute in a meaningful way to USA Gymnastics and its success.”

“Paul is one of the all-time greats of our sport, whose accomplishments will be very difficult to match,” said Peter Vidmar, chairman of USA Gymnastics and 1984 Olympic gold medalist. “His ability to handle pressure at the highest level was so impressive to me. He has contributed much to the legacy of USA Gymnastics and will continue to contribute in many other ways. I wish him the very best in his future endeavors.” (read more)

Statement from Paul Hamm:

“I have decided to stop training in competitive gymnastics and end my efforts as a potential member of the 2012 Olympic Men’s Gymnastics Team.  The years of training have taken a toll on my body and training at an Olympic level is no longer sustainable.

My career has far exceeded my expectations.  I hope I am remembered for my gymnastic accomplishments, and as a kind person.

Gymnastics has given me so much and now it is my turn to give back.  Between now and the fall, I will be working at summer gymnastics camps and with several Olympic sponsors to promote the Olympic Games in London.

I have been accepted to Marquette University’s MBA program and will be enrolling in the fall.  I will always have gymnastics in my heart, and I will continue to stay involved with the governing body and all aspects of the sport.” (read more)

It’s been nearly eight years since Paul Hamm of Waukesha became the first American gymnast to win all-around men’s gold at the Olympic Games and four years since he last competed anywhere.

While his latest comeback hasn’t been without its challenges, Hamm is ready to take the next step by competing in the Winter Cup Challenge starting Thursday at the Las Vegas (Nev.) Sports Center.

Hamm, 29, plans to compete on four of the six apparatus: floor exercise, pommel horse, vault and parallel bars. He is not yet ready on the high bar and rings following surgery one year ago to repair a torn labrum and rotator cuff in his right shoulder.

“Keep in mind I haven’t competed in four years, but I think you’re going to see (the old) Paul Hamm on four events this weekend,” he said in a conference call Tuesday. (read more)