Five-Time National Champion Wilson Earns Spot On U.S. Gymnastics Team

Indianapolis, IN (AHN) - Five-time national champion Blaine Wilson moved one step closer to a fourth trip to the Olympics.

Wilson earned a spot on the U.S. men's gymnastic's team Tuesday and will receive funding for three months as he trains to make his fourth Olympics.

The 33-year-old Wilson finished in the top 10 in all four events he competed in at the Winter Cup Challenge this past weekend.

Yewki Tomita, David Sender and Justin Spring also picked up three of the 15 spots. Defending Olympic champion Paul Hamm, Raj Bhavsar, Joseph Hagerty and Sean Townsend also earned spots on the U.S. team.

One name missing from the 15-man squad was Olympic silver medallist Morgan Hamm. He tore a pectoral muscle and still hopes to qualify in April at a meet that serves as a qualifer for the national championships.

A new U.S. men's team will be chosen after nationals, which are May 22-24 in Houston. That's the first step for the selection process for the six-man team for the Beijing Olympics.

The six gymnasts who went to last year's world championships, including national champions David Durante and Sasha Artemev, remain on the national team.