INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., Aug. 1, 2007 – Fans have a chance to hear members of the U.S. Men’s and Women’s National Team talk about their motivation, preparation and focus in the latest episode of “USA Gymnastics:  Behind the Team,” the online series available only on the AT&T blue room Team USA site (www.attblueroom.com/teamusa).

 

Some of the top gymnasts who share, in their own words, why they put in the long hours in the gym, why they love to compete and how they handle the pressure are: 2007 Pan Am Games all-around bronze-medalist Guillermo Alvarez; 2006 world pommel horse bronze-medalist Alexander Artemev; 2006 world all-around silver-medalist Jana Bieger; 2006-07 Tyson American Cup titlist Jonathan Horton; 2007 Pan Am Games all-around champion Shawn Johnson; 2005 world uneven bars and balance beam champion Nastia Liukin; 2005 world all-around champion Chellsie Memmel; 2005 world floor exercise champion Alicia Sacramone; and 2007 Pan Am Games parallel bars gold-medalist Justin Spring. 

 

“USA Gymnastics:  Behind the Team” is a joint initiative of USA Gymnastics and AT&T.

 

Visitors to the AT&T blue room Team USA site can sign up to receive e-mail alerts when new “Behind the Team” episodes are launched. Visitors can also download a free, customizable USA Gymnastics Desktop Communicator. The Communicator includes an RSS news feed, alerts users to breaking gymnastics news, runs a countdown to the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China, displays weather information for selected ZIP codes and showcases special promotions and offers.

 

The AT&T blue room Team USA site gives sports fans intimate access to U.S. Olympic Team hopefuls across a range of sports.  AT&T is an official partner of USA Gymnastics.

 

Based in Indianapolis, USA Gymnastics is the national governing body for gymnastics in the United States. Its mission is to encourage participation and the pursuit of excellence in the sport. Its disciplines include men’s and women’s artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, trampoline and tumbling, and acrobatic gymnastics. For more information, log on to www.usa-gymnastics.org.