Posted on: Wednesday, April 14, 2004

U.S. women are favorites; men's title up for grabs

By Brandon Masuoka
Advertiser Staff Writer

Former U.S. gymnastics coach Bela Karolyi yesterday tabbed the American women's team a heavy favorite, but predicted a tough battle for the men's title in the three-day Pacific Alliance Championships starting tomorrow at the Stan Sheriff Center.

Ching Pi-hsun of Taiwan takes a turn on the balance beam during practice for the Pacific Alliance Championships at the Stan Sheriff Center. Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser

Considered by organizers as the most prestigious gymnastics event ever hosted in Honolulu, the Pacific Alliance Championships is an Olympic-caliber competition that includes five of the top six men's and women's teams in the world.

Team USA is coming off a seven-medal performance at the World Championships last August, including a first-ever world team title for the women, and a men's team silver. The World Championships is viewed by officials as a barometer for August's Olympic Games in Athens.

"On the women's side, the USA team might run away with the team title," said Karolyi, who is in town to promote this week's event. "It's a solid team. It's a strong team. It's a very well-established team."

The men's competition won't be so lopsided with defending world champion China and Japan entered, Karolyi said.

"I believe it's going to be a dogfight for the team championship," Karolyi said. "It's going to be an incredible rivalry."

The NBC-televised Pacific Alliance Championships is expected to draw nearly 400 delegates, including 225 Olympic hopefuls from more than a dozen countries, to the University of Hawai'i campus. The Stan Sheriff Center will seat approximately 9,233 in its gymnastic configuration.

Quick facts • WHAT: 2004 Pacific Alliance Championships. • WHO: Features leading male and female gymnasts from America and around the Pacific Rim — including candidates for Team USA and other Olympic teams going to the 2004 Summer Games. • WHEN: Thursday through Saturday. • WHERE: Stan Sheriff Center • TICKETS: All-session tickets from $30-$75 and individual seats from $5-$15. Sold at all University of Hawai'i ticket outlets, including the Stan Sheriff Center, Aloha Stadium, the Campus Center, Rainbowtique at Ward Centre, and the OCET Office at Windward Community College; by phone at 944-2697; or online at www.etickethawaii.com and local gymnastics clubs listed at www.usagymnastics.org.

Team USA is led by world all-around champion Paul Hamm, two-time reigning national rhythmic champion Mary Sanders and world medalists Carly Patterson and Katie Heenan.

Hamm is trying to become the first U.S. Olympic all-around medalist since Peter Vidmar's silver in 1984. Patterson can become the first American to win an all-around Olympic medal since Shannon Miller's silver in 1992.

"There's a lot of expectations, especially for me," Hamm said. "I take that as a good thing. I realize people may be expecting something, but I've never won an Olympic medal before. I'm looking at (the Olympics) as if I'm trying to gain something as opposed to losing a world title."

USA Gymnastics President Bob Colarossi said the Pacific Alliance Championships serves as a preview for the Olympics. Many gymnasts this week will be competing for spots on their respective Olympic teams, he said.

"In an Olympic year, everything takes on another level of consideration," Colarossi said. "For many of the countries, this will be the last competition they'll do. They'll leave here, go home, lock their doors and you won't see them until Athens."

Team USA members Jason Gatson and Morgan Hamm said they hope to continue improving at this week's event.

"This competition is very important for our team to keep momentum from the last World Championships," said Morgan Hamm, who is Paul Hamm's twin brother. "Hopefully we can go on to the Olympics and try to get a medal, or even win. This also helps you show your consistency before the Olympic Trials to make the team."

Added Gatson: "We sent a lot of guys to international competition (following the World Championships) and everyone has done well. It just shows that the depth of our team is huge."

Martha Karolyi, the U.S. women's national team program coordinator, said the women's gymnasts were selected based on their results from the Women's National Team Training Camp this past week near Huntsville, Texas.

"We believe any time our gymnasts represent our country, they must be in good shape and represent us with pride," she said.

Reach Brandon Masuoka at bmasuoka@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2458.

• • •

TEAM USA

Men's senior team

P. HAMM

Paul Hamm

• Hometown: Waukesha, Wis.

• Birth date: Sept. 24, 1982

• Highlights: Reigning world all-around and floor exercise champion. Competed in the 2000 Olympic Games. His father, Sandy, was an All-American diver.

• Quote: "There's a lot of great countries here. It's going to be tough. For my expectations, I'm trying to win the all-around. I think our team is probably one of the top-ranked teams here. Our goal is trying win as a team, as well."

Jason Gatson

• Hometown: Mesa, Ariz.

• Birth date: June 25, 1980

• Highlights: Became the youngest athlete ever to make a U.S. men's World Championships team in 1997 at 17. Overcame numerous injuries, including tearing his right knee in 1999 and 2001, to earn spots on two World Championships teams. Nicknamed "The Bull."

• Quote: "It was tough dealing with injuries. Luckily, I was at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado and I had a lot of people pushing me there. It kept me motivated."

Morgan Hamm

• Hometown: Waukesha, Wis.

• Birth date: Sept. 24, 1982

• Highlights: Has a twin brother, Paul. Became the first twins to compete in the same Olympic Games gymnastics competition in 2000. Morgan is older than his brother by 30 minutes. Member of the 2003 World Championships silver medal team.

• Quote: "It's great having a twin brother in the gym all the time. There's always someone there to push you. Having him there really helped me make the Olympic team, and now hopefully it will help me make the next Olympic team."

Stephen McCain

• Hometown: Houston

• Birth date: Jan. 9, 1974

• Highlights: Represented U.S. at the 2000 Olympic Games. He aspires for a career in business. He majored in economics at UCLA. The 30-year-old McCain is one of the most experienced gymnasts on Team USA.

• Quote: "It's humbling to be doing this sport at my age at this level. Gymnastic years are kind of like dog years on your body. They're extremely difficult. I just had a couple of surgeries in 2002 on my shoulder and knee. I almost retired. I feel great now and the team is amazing."

Women's senior team

PATTERSON

Carly Patterson

• Hometown: Baton Rouge, La.

• Birth date: Feb. 4, 1988

• Highlights: Considered one of the top women gymnasts in the world. Swept all four events to win the all-around at the 2004 Visa American Cup. Nicknamed "Harley." She would like to study dental hygiene in college.

• Quote: "The Pacific Alliance is another very important meet for me. All meets leading up to the U.S. Championships and U.S. Olympic Team Trials will be very important to prove I'm consistent."

Katie Heenan

• Hometown: South Riding, Va.

• Birth date: Nov. 26, 1985

• Highlights: Heenan took fifth all-around and third on beam at the Stella Zakharaova Cup in Kiev, Ukraine, earlier this month. In 2001, won silver medal on the bars at the Pan American Championships, and both bars and team bronze at the World Gymnastics Championships. Hopes to someday pursue a career in acting, broadcasting or coaching.

• Quote: "It looks like her preparation is in the right place," said Martha Karolyi, U.S. women's national team program coordinator. "I'm expecting her to do a good job."

Allyse Ishino

• Hometown: Santa Ana, Calif.

• Birth date: Feb. 19, 1988

• Highlights: Finished first on bars and second on floor at the 2004 World Cup event in Rio. Older sister Genine, older brother Gian, and younger brother Glen, all have gymnastic backgrounds. Role model is figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi. Hopes to become an orthopedic doctor.

• Quote: "I'm really excited to be chosen to the Pacific Alliance Team. I'm also very excited to compete with the rest of the kids on the National Team."

Alicia Sacramone

• Hometown: Winchester, Mass.

• Birth date: Dec. 3, 1987

• Highlights: Finished second on vault and sixth on floor at the 2004 World Cup event in Rio. Hopes to study international relations. Wants to go to college and pursue a career in business and/or fashion design.

• Quote: "Alicia Sacramone is definitely a newcomer to the team. She is barely 16 years old this year. If she shows some consistency, she could be an asset to the team."

Women's rhythmic team

Mary Sanders

• Hometown: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

• Birth date: Aug. 26, 1985

Highlights: Two-time reigning national champion in 2003 and 2002. She was a five-time member of the Canadian National Gymnastics Team. She is interested in a future in sports therapy, modeling and media.

Olga Karmansky

• Hometown: Brooklyn, N.Y.

• Birth date: July 1, 1986

• Highlights: Two-time all-around national silver medalist in 2003 and 2002. She plans to attend college in the future and is interested in a career as a make-up artist, lawyer or media-related career.

Lisa Wang

• Hometown: Buffalo Grove, Ill.

• Birth date: Sept. 24, 1988

• Highlights: Finished first in hoops and clubs events in 2002 nationals, and second in clubs in the 2003 nationals. Thinking of a journalism or media career because she likes to be creative.