BEIJING — Gymnast Jonathan Horton checked his cell phone moments after the U.S. men won an unexpected bronze medal in the team event Tuesday to find more than 50 text messages from well-wishers and more than 80 voice messages.
“I don’t even know 80 people,” Horton said with a laugh. “I can’t even imagine what we’ve got going with Facebook right now.”
Colorado’s Alexander “Sasha” Artemev spoke to his father, a gymnast for the Soviet Union, who is watching the Olympics from his home in Denver.
“It was pretty emotional,” Artemev said. “He was just proud of this team and how we performed. He said we proved to the world that we are a gold medal team, (that) it was a gold-medal performance.”
What about his son’s crucial pommel horse routine, which clinched the medal for the U.S.?
“Could have done better,” Artemev said. “Just glad I stayed on.”
The Beijing medals are inlaid with a disc of green jade on one side, encircling the Beijing 2008 logo. On the other side the winged Greek goddess of victory is depicted in the stadium in Athens where the first modern Olympics was held in 1896.
“I’m wearing it everywhere,” Artemev said.
Horton agreed.
“I’m not going to take it off,” Horton said. “I’m just going to wear it all day, and tomorrow ”
