Ankle woes force Hamm to sideline; Artemev gets call

Stuart Holden (left) celebrates with teammate Sacha Kljestan after Holden's goal propelled the US to a 1-0 win over Japan in Tianjin, China. (Michael Sohn/Associated Press)

BEIJING - When he couldn't complete a floor routine on his damaged left ankle during Wednesday's podium training, Morgan Hamm knew he couldn't help the US men's gymnastics team. So just as twin Paul did last week, Hamm withdrew from the Olympics yesterday and was replaced by alternate Alexander Artemev.

"This has been an extremely hard decision for me to make," said the 25-year-old Hamm, who had come out of retirement and overcome a torn pectoral muscle to make his third team. "It's been a long, tough year. I put my heart and soul into gymnastics. To get here and not be able to compete is extremely disappointing."

Paul Hamm, the defending all-around champion who'd broken a bone in his right hand in May, withdrew after his left shoulder began acting up. Without the Hamms, the only two returning members from the team that won the silver medal in Athens, prospects for the US squad are decidedly dimmer. But the addition of Artemev gives the Americans a good chance to win a medal on pommel horse, the squad's weakest event.

"It's an honor to be on this team, but it's a shame that it had to happen this way with Morgan getting hurt," said the 22-year-old Artemev, a former US all-around champion who was born in Belarus and is the son of Vladimir Artemev, a former Soviet all-around champion. "He's a tremendous loss to this team."

Boxer out after collapsing
American bantamweight Gary Russell Jr. will miss the Olympics after collapsing Thursday night while trying to make weight.

Russell is two-time national champion and one of the top medal hopes for the US team. He is resting after he collapsed in a last-ditch workout to reach the 119-pound limit.

He was removed for the US team's list of competitors before Friday's draw.

Stepping aside
Though there are nearly 600 athletes on the US team, a significant number won't be marching in tonight's opening ceremonies, including Michael Phelps, who is racing in tomorrow night's swimming preliminaries. As usual, anyone who has an event tomorrow will be watching the 3 1/2-hour presentation on TV. That includes a fair number of swimmers, half of the rowers, and the male gymnasts. The women's soccer team will be playing its second match, against Japan in Qinhuangdao, while the men's soccer team will be preparing for its date with the Netherlands Sunday in Tianjin.

Torres's role unknown
The US swimming coaches have been tight-lipped about whether they'll have Dara Torres anchor one or both of the women's 400-meter relays. The 41-year-old Torres, who has won three relay golds, a silver, and a bronze (plus an alternate's gold) at her four previous Games, is by far the most experienced and versatile relay swimmer on the squad. "We're not sure where she's going to be on the relay," says women's coach Jack Bauerle. "I'm sure she'll be a player one way or another." With the Americans going in as underdogs to the Australians in both the freestyle and medley events, Torres would be a natural choice to anchor both, especially since Natalie Coughlin has to swim a 100 backstroke heat Sunday night after the morning freestyle final and will be swimming the back leg on the medley relay. Said Torres: "I'll be happy wherever they put me. I've probably swum every position in a relay because I've been in the sport so long. Wherever they put me is great." . . . Looks like the Games' organizers will get some of the good fortune that comes with the lucky number 8. Tonight's forecast calls for overcast skies but no rain. The temperature, predicted to be a steamy 93 during the day, will dip to a low of 78 during the night.

US men kickoff with win
Stuart Holden ended a three-game scoring drought for the US with a goal in the second half, giving the Americans a 1-0 victory over Japan in the Olympic opener for both in Tianjin. Holden struck a loose ball at the top of the penalty area that Japanese goalkeeper Shusaku Nishikawa was able to slow, but couldn't keep from trickling over the line in the 47th minute. This was a welcome change for Holden. He hasn't scored for Houston in 16 Major League Soccer games this season but had three goals in the North American SuperLiga.

Material from wire services was used in this report.