PHILADELPHIA — Highlands Ranch gymnast Alexander “Sasha” Artemev was left off the six-member men’s Olympic team chosen Sunday and hinted he might leave the sport after the Beijing Games.
Artemev, 22, was one of three athletes named as alternates a day after the conclusion of the men’s Olympic Trials. He was in a strong position after the first session Thursday, but fell off the high bar and pommel horse Saturday. He also stepped out of bounds landing his vault.
“I guess I didn’t show them what I have,” a somber Artemev said. “We’ll see what happens with my gymnastics career. It’s up in the air. I didn’t practice my whole lifetime to be an alternate, so I’m not pleased to be an alternate right now.”
Denver native Guillermo Alvarez failed to make either list.
Artemev said he would continue to train so he would be available in Beijing, if needed. The alternates will attend a preparation camp next month in Colorado Springs and probably will travel to Beijing with the team. After that, Artemev faces shoulder surgery and said he might join a friend in a Greenwood Village business.
Making the team were Paul and Morgan Hamm, Jonathan Horton, Kevin Tan, Justin Spring and Joe Hagerty of Albuquerque, who trains in Colorado Springs. The other two alternates are David Durante and Raj Bhavsar.
“I definitely stand by the team,” Artemev said. “After the Olympics, we’ll see what the future brings.”
The son of a former Soviet champion, Artemev is considered a huge talent — he was a bronze medalist in pommel horse at last year’s world championships — but his penchant for inconsistency cost him dearly. Had he not slipped off the pommel horse Saturday, he probably would have made the team.
Alvarez had the opposite profile.
“The reason he (Alvarez) was looked at so closely, he was consistent,” men’s national team coordinator Ron Brant said. “However, the scores in the majority of the scoring scenarios weren’t strong enough. But, (he’s) a great athlete.”
