Gymnast Hamm forced out of Beijing 2008

(BEIJING, July 29) -- Reigning Olympic all-around gymnast champion Paul Hamm, has withdrawn from the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games through injury.

Hamm broke a bone in his right hand at the US Championships on May 22, but was still included in the US men’s gymnastics team after demonstrating his fitness at a training camp on July 19.

However the 25 year old, who was also a double silver medalist in the horizontal bars and team event at Athens, suffered a rotator cuff strain in his left shoulder so he officially notified both USA Gymnastics and the US Olympic Committee of his withdrawal on July 28.

He has been replaced in the US men’s gymnastics team by Raj Bhavsar, who was one of the team’s three reserves.

After winning all-around gold at Athens 2004, - when he competed alongside his twin brother Morgan, who has been selected for Beijing 2008