Dibsie, of Waikele, was one of several hundred fans swept with patriotism and goodwill on the opening day of the Pacific Alliance Gymnastics Championships last night at the Stan Sheriff Center.

"I feel the pride, especially because I have military friends in the Middle East doing their part," said Dibsie, a Hilo Hattie merchandiser who brought her 10-year-old daughter Jasmine along. "You see all these other counties, cooperating and sharing a common bond. We've never seen something like this before."

The Pacific Alliance Gymnastics Championships is an Olympic-caliber competition that includes the top three men's and three of the top four women's teams in the world. It's considered the most prestigious gymnastics event ever hosted in Honolulu, according to organizers.

The NBC-televised competition is one of two Olympic lead-in events in Honolulu this week, and precedes Sunday's first-ever U.S. Olympic triathlon trials.

Dibsie said seeing Team USA and the other countries energized her, and encouraged her daughter to try gymnastics. Jasmine attends third grade at Waikele Elementary.

"Coming here you can feel the excitement," Dibsie said. "You get to see their dreams, hopes, sweat, tears and frustration. You can feel the electricity in the air. A lot of the young people right now, I wish they had this kind of determination and hunger."

Taqiy Abdullah, who is on the U.S. junior men's team, said he appreciated the crowd's support. Abdullah won the junior men's all-around title yesterday and will compete for an Olympic roster spot for August's Olympic Games in Athens.

"We compete to make the whole USA proud," Abdullah said. "For people to be really happy, and for them to understand that we fight really hard, it just means the world to us."

Dennis McIntyre, the junior national team coordinator for USA Gymnastics, agreed with Abdullah. McIntyre said athletes train more than half their lives for the Olympics.

"It's kind of hokey sometimes, but it really is the pride of competition, the pride of self and the pride of country that motivates these guys," said McIntyre, who coaches at the Olympic training center in Colorado Springs, Colo. "Representing the United States is what it's all about for them."

Amy Shaughnessy, a 19-year-old freshman at Hawai'i Pacific University, said last night's competition filled her with good emotions. Shaughnessy was one of several HPU national champion cheerleaders who watched yesterday's competition.

"I do get a sense of patriotism and pride because that's my country," Shaughnessy said. "They've done so well this year. Just seeing them out there gets me pumped up."

Ten-year-old Kate Miller, a two-time state gymnastics champion, said she was amazed at the sculpted physiques of the men's gymnasts. Some of the men's athletes last night drew attention when they practiced without their shirts on. Miller attended the meet with her mother, Laura Soller.

"I'm impressed on how strong they look," said Miller, a fourth grader at Trinity Christian in Maunawili.

Miller and her mother said they planned to attend the entire competition that continues today and ends tomorrow.

"You might think these are just normal people, but you might see them on television one day, and say, 'Oh I didn't see them. I could have been there,' " Miller said. "I wouldn't miss it."

• USA earns medals: Houston's Abdullah nailed his floor and pommel horse routines to win the Junior Men's all-around title yesterday at the 2004 Pacific Alliance Gymnastics Championships.

Abdullah (Houston Gymnastics Academy) finished with a final mark of 55.198 to win the all-around over China's Tu Jing at 54.465. USA's Bryan Del Castillo (Laguna Niguel, Calif./South Coast) finished seventh at 52.480.

Led by Abdullah, Team USA finished second in the team final with 160.426, trailing China at 162.928. Competing for the United States were Abdullah, Del Castillo, Kyson Bunthuwong (El Cerrito, Calif.) and Derek Helsby (Houston).

In junior rhythmic action, USA's Rachel Marmer (Los Angeles, LASG) leads the all-around with a score of 40.500 following the ball and rope events.

In senior rhythmic action, USA's Mary Sanders leads the hoop and ball events. USA's Paul Hamm leads the senior men's all-around, and USA leads the senior men's standings.

Senior Men's All-Around

1, Paul Hamm, USA, 57.265. 2, Bo Lu, CHN, 55.482. 3, David Kikuchi, CAN, 55.149.

Senior Men's Team

1, USA 169.895. 2, Japan 164.945. 3, China 163.962.