Paul Hamm has surgery on hand

[May 28, 2008]  COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- The first step in Olympic gold medalist Paul Hamm's recovery is already done.

Hamm had surgery Tuesday to repair the broken bone in his right hand, and will begin physical therapy Thursday. He said he hopes to be back on gymnastics equipment in five weeks, giving him plenty of time to get ready for the Beijing Olympics. The men's gymnastics competition in Beijing begins Aug. 9, a little less than 11 weeks from now.

"If I do a great job staying in shape, the routines will come back pretty quickly," Hamm told The Associated Press. "I'm not putting anything new in. I've done the routines, I'm comfortable with them. It's just a matter of being physically prepared to do those things."

Dr. Lawrence Lubbers inserted a thin plate and nine small screws in Hamm's right hand to repair the fourth metacarpal, which broke Thursday night in the final seconds of Hamm's parallel bars routine at the U.S. gymnastics championships.

Hamm did not even have to be put under general anesthesia for the surgery at Riverside Methodist Hospital, and was back home at his apartment Tuesday night.

"It went really well," Hamm said. "The surgeon gave himself a 99 out of a 100."

Hamm said his arm is numb, and it's heavily bandaged to reduce the swelling. Those bandages will be removed Thursday when he sees Lubbers again, after which he'll be able to move his hand. His first physical therapy appointment is scheduled for Thursday, too.

And he's already working to make sure the rest of his body stays in top shape. He spent several hours at the gym Monday -- including doing some strength work on the still rings.

"I would say by later this week, I'll be back doing sit-ups and other strength (exercises) that doesn't bother my hand," Hamm said.

Hamm will have to petition for a spot on the Beijing team because he will miss next month's Olympic trials in Philadelphia. Provided he is healthy, USA Gymnastics is sure to grant the petition.

Hamm, after all, is the only American man to win the world title (2003) and Olympic gold medal (2004). And despite a 2 1/2-year layoff after the Athens Olympics -- an unheard of break in elite gymnastics -- he's been better than ever this year, firmly establishing himself as a favorite to defend his gold medal.

He routed the competition in his first three meets of the year, and was almost four points ahead of the rest of the field after the preliminaries at nationals. Even with only the one day of competition, he was fifth in the points standings used to determine the men's national team.

"It's going to be a push," Hamm said Saturday of his recovery. "But if anybody can do it, I can pull it off."

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http://www.makingtheolympics.com/

[Associated Press; By ANDREW SELIGMAN]

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