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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Balancing act


Paul Hamm performed on the still rings during the senior men's finals at the U.S. Gymnastics Championships at Nashville, Tenn., in June. 
 (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)
Associated Press

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Paul and Morgan Hamm are ready to try a new routine after traveling the globe since the Athens Olympics.

The gymnasts have been making appearances since Paul won gold in the all-around on Aug. 18 and then – because of a scoring dispute – had to wait months before arbitrators decided he could keep his medal.

The twins have appeared on talk shows and award shows, competed on a Japanese game show obstacle course and answered countless questions from people on the street about the medal controversy.

The Waukesha, Wis., natives return to their adopted hometown of Columbus this month, when they’ll start classes at Ohio State while also beginning a training regimen that coach Miles Avery said will keep the brothers in the gym about five hours every day, except Saturdays.

“I’m a little tired of the whole airport scene and hotels,” Morgan said. “I’d like to just spend some time at my place in Columbus and just hang out with friends, that’d be great.”

The brothers didn’t attend Ohio State last school year when they moved to Columbus to work with Avery, a Team USA assistant who separately coaches Ohio State’s gymnasts.

With classes and studying added to their schedules, the Hamms are determined to make time for what Paul calls “normal fun stuff.”

Paul also hopes to complete a degree in health and fitness management, while Morgan hopes to complete his physical therapy degree. The two attended the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and are about two years from graduating.

“Right now, my main focus isn’t the next Olympics or winning another gold medal,” said Paul, who is a half-hour younger than Morgan. “There are a lot of other things in my life I want to do.

“I’ll still try and continue to stay at the top of the world, that’s definitely a goal of mine, but at the same time I’ve done more in this sport than I ever expected or ever really hoped for. I pretty much have exceeded any goal that I’ve ever had.”

When they aren’t in the gym, the 22-year-old Hamms enjoy playing golf, tennis and basketball, going to movies and hanging out with friends and their girlfriends.

They share a two-bedroom condominium near the Ohio State campus and rarely spend time apart. Inside their dresser drawers are Paul’s all-around gold and the silver medal he won on the high bar, plus the silvers both brothers received when the Americans finished second in the team competition.

In the gym, the brothers are friendly rivals who “want to help each other win more than anything,” said Avery, who will help them work on new skills for the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing.

Morgan would like to add some “flashy” skills to his floor exercise – already his strength – with hopes of winning gold at Beijing.

Paul is working on a new release from the high bar that could take a year to learn. Once he nails it, he’ll have invented a move no one else can do.

“One thing I’ve always wanted to do since I was a little kid is have a skill named after me,” the defending world champion said.

Cecily Hamm expects her sons, gymnasts since age 7, to have little trouble balancing all their commitments.

“They have never, ever been burned out,” she said. “I don’t ever really remember making them go. It was more, ‘Mom, it’s time to go.’ “

The brothers say they’re hoping their classmates in Columbus will overlook their celebrity, but that’s not likely.

“Everywhere that we go usually at least one person will come up to them,” said Paul Hamm’s girlfriend, Lauren Davis.

A few weeks ago, during one of their busiest stretches, the brothers competed on a Japanese game show’s obstacle course before flying from Tokyo to Dallas.

Morgan then headed to Los Angeles and Paul caught a plane to New York to help light the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center.

Paul then met up with his brother in Los Angeles for television commitments, including a meeting with a casting group.

“I have to make lists some time, just things to remember and call this person back, pick up this stuff, go grocery shopping, what to get there. So I’ll do that just to keep myself on track,” Morgan said.

Paul said the brothers will work more closely with their agent to schedule appearances once classes begin.

“If I wasn’t doing this stuff, I’d probably be sitting at home in Columbus bored,” he said. “You’re not in school and you’re not training hard, what else would I be doing?”