Justin Spring

The Stats:

The Scoop:  While Alvarez and Durante may be a bit too conservative, Justin Spring typically has the opposite problem.  Known as a fearless daredevil since he was a junior gymnast, Justin Spring is one of the biggest tricksters the USA has ever had.  Had he not torn his ACL on a triple-twisting Tsukahara at the 2007 USA Nationals, he may very well be right up there with Horton and Artemev as one of Hamm’s second hands in the “front runner” category.  However, this serious injury, which left him out of the 2007 World Championships, has made his Olympic quest an uphill battle to prove to the selection committee that he is healed and ready to hit in Beijing.  He is essentially a four-event gymnast, capable of spectacular, world-class routines on high bar, parallel bars, floor, and vault.  Though his status is currently a bit uncertain, his type of gymnastics may be exactly what the U.S. team needs to challenge the Chinese and Japanese in Beijing, especially on high bar and p-bars.  His packed high bar set includes a laid-out Kolman, tucked Kolman in combination to a Rybalko, and a triple back.  It may sound a bit too risky for the Olympic team finals, but like Horton, Spring actually started to gain some consistency with these wild skills over the last three years.  He narrowly missed making the finals on this event at the 2005 worlds, and has had flashes of brilliance in other international competitions as well.  If he is able to show readiness with this routine this year, he could be exactly what the U.S.’s struggling high bar lineup needs.  His p-bar set is equally as impressive (peach full turn, front uprise double back, giant diamidov, Morisue), and combined with Paul Hamm, could help the U.S. match up much better with the jam-packed p-bar routines of the Chinese and Japanese teams.  Though his floor and vault are potentially world-class as well, it remains to be seen whether he will risk injury to his knee by competing these events.  Capable of a triple twisting double back on floor (among numerous other combination passes) and a triple twisting Tsuk on vault, his contributions there are certainly not insignificant.  With the stability of Paul Hamm now in the equation, the U.S. may be able to afford risking a gymnast like Spring in the lineup in an all-out attempt to win a medal, possibly even challenge for gold.

The Summary:  Will Spring’s knee be fully healthy in time to compete all four of his world-class events?  If his floor and vault are not ready, will his high bar and p-bars be consistent enough to justify an Olympic berth?  Is Spring just what the U.S. team needs to challenge the Chinese and Japanese on p-bars and high bar?