Ankle injury forces Hamm to drop out

Withdrawal hurts U.S. team's chances By CHARLES F. GARDNER U.S. men start off on right foot Journal Sentinel reporters Gary D'Amato in Beijing and Charles Gardner in Milwaukee provide regular updates on Wisconsin's athletes and other news and notes from the Olympics. Hamm followed his twin brother, Paul, in withdrawing from the Beijing Games, making the difficult decision because of a nagging left ankle injury. They had hoped to compete together in a third Olympics, but injuries proved the undoing of that dream scenario. Paul withdrew from the team 10 days earlier, citing pain from the broken right hand he suffered during the national championships in May and a painful shoulder injury. With Morgan bowing out Thursday after aggravating his ankle injury in podium training, the U.S. men suddenly appear to be a long shot for a... [read full story]