|
|||||
|
Artistic gymnastics competition begins Monday at the Pan American Games in Guadalajara, where the U.S. women and Puerto Rican men seek to repeat as team champions.  The artistic gymnastics field includes more than 100 gymnasts from 18 nations across North, South and Central America. World and Olympic champion Shawn Johnson headlines the U.S. women's team, which won the past two team titles. Johnson won four golds at the 2007 Pan Am Games in Rio de Janeiro (team, all-around, uneven bars and balance beam). "I remember going to Brazil - the 2007 Pan Ams – and it being one of my favorite competitions," said Johnson, who is in the U.S. lineup for vault, uneven bars and balance beam. "Just the atmosphere of the Games, it’s like a little Olympics, and I love being here. I’m excited, because I think we have a strong team." 2009 world champion Bridget Sloan is also back in action for the U.S., serving as team captain. "Being team captain is a big role for me but I have taken it head on," Sloan said. "All of the girls who made this Pan Am team should be so proud. Personally, this is the first time I'll be doing the all-around since 2010 ... and definitely excited to do it here." The depth of the U.S. squad allowed it to send a different team than that which won the gold medal at the recent world championships in Japan. With a few exceptions, most other nations sent the same gymnasts that competed in Tokyo. World team alternate Talia Chiarelli replaces Madeline Gardiner in the Canadian lineup. Brazil's Gabriela Soares stepped in to replace reigning Pan Am vault champion Jade Barbosa, who suffered a sprained left ankle in the vault final in Tokyo. The Puerto Rican men will attempt to hold off Brazil and the U.S. again to defend their team title. Brazil's squad boasts two medalists from Tokyo: still rings runner-up Arthur Zanetti and floor exercise bronze medalist Diego Hypolito. The men's competition also will crown a new all-around champion, since 2007 victor José Luis Fuentes (Venezuela) suffered a torn ACL in September. Competition begins Monday with the women's team and individual qualification. External Link: Official Website 2011 Pan American Games Oct. 24-28, Guadalajara, Mexico
Comments (0)
 Write comment
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Subscribe to this comment's feed
