PHILADELPHIA — Rebounding from a subpar performance at the U.S. Championships four weeks ago, Highlands Ranch resident Alexander “Sasha” Artemev took the lead halfway through the men’s gymnastics Olympic Trials on Thursday night.
In the first of two sessions that will weigh heavily in determining the team that goes to Beijing, Artemev electrified spectators in the Wachovia Center with a sensational winning pommel horse routine — garnering the best score of the night on what is typically his best apparatus — and was fifth-best on the vault and parallel bars.
Artemev finished a disappointing sixth at the U.S. Championships on May 24. Scores from the championships count 40 percent in calculating the Olympic team selection formula, with the trials making up the remainder. The top two in the combined standings from the two events automatically make the Olympic team, with discretion determining the other four spots.
“I’m not happy yet — one more day,” said Artemev, 22. “It was definitely an improvement. I was sloppy in certain areas where I can improve a little bit. It was an all-right day.”
Artemev moved up to third in the combined standings for the two meets, and Denver native Guillermo Alvarez is in sixth. The men’s trials conclude Saturday.
“I definitely need to show the committee — and show myself — that I can be in the mix and be one of the top guys,” Artemev said. “I just have to hit and (prove) I can be consistent when the pressure’s on.”
Artemev and Alvarez were on the world championships team last year.
“Tonight it was really important for me to be consistent and I showed that,” said Alvarez, 25. “I didn’t have any major errors, didn’t have any falls, I didn’t miss anything important. I’ve shown I can get up there and hit in pressure situations.”
The women compete in the first of their two sessions tonight.
