Former Buckeyes Raj Bhavsar and Blaine Wilson Vie for Olympic Bid – Ohio State Buckeyes
6/22/2004 12:00:00 AM | General, Men's Gymnastics
June 22, 2004
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Former Buckeyes Raj Bhavsar and Blaine Wilson and Morgan and Paul Hamm will vie for a spot on the U.S. Olympic Team at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials, Thursday through Sunday at The Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim in Anaheim, Calif. The four gymnasts, who train with Ohio State men’s gymnastics head coach Miles Avery, will compete against 13 other gymnasts, including other members of the U.S. Senior National Team. Avery serves as part of the U.S. Men’s Program Committee, which decides the 2004 U.S. men’s gymnastics Olympic team. The Olympic Summer Games will be held in Athens, Greece, August 13-29.
Following the trials the gymnasts’ scores from the national championships and the Olympic Trials will be combined with the Top 2 gymnasts earning a spot on the Olympic team. The remaining four will be selected by the program committee either following the meet or the team training camp in July.
Recently, the four gymnasts competed at the 2004 Visa U.S. Gymnastics Championships in Nashville, Tenn. Bhavsar concluded the competition first on rings with a 9.8 and finished sixth overall in the all around. Morgan Hamm completed the championships third on three events (pommel horse – 9.550, vault – 9.650 and high bar – 9.725), while also finishing third in the all-around (113.125). Paul Hamm continued his national reign, as he won his second-consecutive all around championship, compiling a score of 115.70. Paul also captured the floor and high bar titles, recording scores of 9.850 and 9.825, respectively. Wilson did not compete in the championships, as he was rehabilitating a tore left bicep tendon.
NBC Sports will air the men’s finals from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday July 3.
