© John Cheng
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., Sept. 13, 2009 – USA Gymnastics has finalized the U.S. Men’s World Championships Team for the 2009 World Gymnastics Championships, Oct. 13-19, at the O2 in London, England, following the team’s preparation camp. This year’s World Championships feature competition in the all-around and individual events only.
Based on performances at the training camp at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, alternates Jake Dalton of Sparks, Nev., and Wesley Haagensen of Colorado Springs, Colo., have been named to the team. They replace David Sender, who withdrew from the team due to school commitments, and Alexander Artemev, who had petitioned to the team but was unable to demonstrate competitive readiness.
The complete team is comprised of: 2008 Olympic silver-medalist Jonathan Horton of Houston, Texas/Cypress Gymnastics; Steven Legendre of Flower Mound, Texas/University of Oklahoma; Danell Leyva of Miami/Universal Gymnastics; Tim McNeill of Falls Church, Va./University of California – Berkeley; Dalton, who trains with Nevada Gymnastics; and Haagensen, who trains at the U.S. Olympic Training Center. The alternate is: Daniel Ribeiro of Chestnut Ridge, N.Y./University of Illinois.
The team was named following the conclusion of the 2009 Visa Championships. Artemev, who did not compete in the Visa Championships because he was injured, petitioned to the team with the caveat that he must demonstrate competitive readiness at the recently concluded camp. Sender withdrew from the team to continue his education at the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Illinois.