BEIJING, Aug. 7, 2008 – The 15-month journey of the USA’s top gymnasts in pursuit of their Olympic dreams documented in the Web-based series, ” USA Gymnastics: Behind the Team,” has concluded with the selection of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team for men’s and women’s gymnastics. Fans will hear first-hand what it means to make the team and their thoughts as they head to take on the world at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China. This is the final episode of “USA Gymnastics: Behind the Team,” available only on the AT&T blue room Team USA site (www.attblueroom.com/teamusa). The episode revisits some of the best moments from the series, including the U.S. women’s gold-medal-winning performance at the 2007 World Championships.
“This has been an incredible trip for the USA’s gymnasts to the 2008 Olympic Games,” said Steve Penny, president of USA Gymnastics. “Gymnastics fans shared that journey through intimate conversations with athletes and coaches, inside-the-gym access to training, and behind the scenes coverage not available anywhere else. The culmination of ‘ Behind the Team’ is competition at the Olympic Games, and fans now have a greater connection to the U.S. gymnasts when they tune in to watch the coverage from Beijing.”
The athletes give insight into their thoughts and feelings about achieving their gymnastics dreams, as well as speak about the USA’s medal hopes at the Olympic Games. Fans also hear from Raj Bhavsar of Houston, Texas, who was named to the U.S. Olympic Team after Paul Hamm of Waukesha, Wis., withdrew because he did not feel that he was prepared to compete.
In addition to Bhavsar, the U.S. Olympic Team for men’s gymnastics includes: Joseph Hagerty of Rio Rancho, N.M./Team Chevron; Morgan Hamm of Waukesha, Wis./Team Chevron; Jonathan Horton of Houston/Team Chevron; Justin Spring of Burke, Va./Team Chevron; and Kevin Tan of Fremont, Calif./Team Chevron. The two replacement athletes are Alexander Artemev of Morrison, Colo./Team Chevron, and David Durante of Garwood, N.J./Team Chevron.
The members of the U.S. Olympic Team for women’s gymnastics are: Shawn Johnson of West Des Moines, Iowa/Chow’s Gymnastics; Nastia Liukin of Parker, Texas/WOGA; Chellsie Memmel of West Allis, Wis./M&M Gymnastics; Samantha Peszek of Indianapolis, Ind./DeVeau’s; Alicia Sacramone of Winchester, Mass./Brestyan’s; and Bridget Sloan of Pittsboro, Ind./Sharp’s. The three replacement athletes are: Jana Bieger of Coconut Creek, Fla./Bieger International Gymnastics; Ivana Hong of Blue Springs, Mo./GAGE; and Corrie Lothrop of Gaithersburg, Md./Hill’s.
“USA Gymnastics: Behind the Team” is a joint initiative of USA Gymnastics and AT&T.
AT&T U-verse TV customers can watch episodes of “USA Gymnastics: Behind the Team” by accessing the U-verse VOD library.
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.
All U-verse TV customers have access to the U-verse VOD library, which features a variety of free and rental VOD titles. U-verse VOD offers titles the same day as DVD releases, Spanish and international movies, classic and independent films, family and kids programming, television series on demand, and exclusive content.
Customers who want additional information on AT&T U-verse TV – or to find out if it’s available in their area – can visit http://uverse.att.com. U-verse TV customers can get more information about U-verse TV programming and television events by visiting http://uverse.att.com/uconnect.