Hamm is the son of Sandy and Cecily Hamm. His twin brother,Paul Hamm,is also a gymnast and is the 2004 Olympic All-Around Champion. His older sister, Elizabeth (Betsy), is a former member of USA Gymnastics Senior National Team. She competed for the University of Florida, where she became the NCAA’s national balance beam champion in 1998 and was a seven-time All-American. His father was an All-American springboard diver.
Hamm competed at the2000 OlympicsinSydneyat age 17, and the2004 Summer OlympicsinAthens,alongside his twin brotherPaul.At the 2004 Olympics, he won the silver medal with the U.S. team in the team competition. Morgan's contribution to this medal-winning performance was vital as he performed on four of the six apparatus and was the highest scorer for the team on vault and high bar. He also competed in floor and high bar finals, and only a tie-breaker kept him from winning the bronze medal on the latter event. Morgan was also a member of the U.S. team at the2003 World Championshipsthat won a silver medal in the team competition.
In February 2007, Hamm announced that he would return to competitive gymnastics. He competed at the 2007 Visa National Championships, on floor and pommel horse. He competed at the 2008 National Championships and at the 2008 Olympic Trials. He was warned by theUnited States Anti-Doping Agencyin July for testing positive forglucocorticosteroid,[2]which is not performance-enhancing or banned but only allowed if proper paperwork is filed to document that the drug is used for therapeutic reasons. Hamm received the substance through an anti-inflammatory shot to his injured ankle but failed to file the paperwork[3]and his results at the May 24 National Championships were thrown out.[citation needed]Hamm claimed that he had a legitimate medical need for the drug.[citation needed][4]He was ultimately selected for the 2008 Olympic team. However, Hamm withdrew from the Olympics on August 7, 2008, due to an ankle injury.[5]Alexander Artemevreplaced him on the team.
Morgan Hamm also competed alongside his brother,Paul Hamm,in the two 2005Sasukecompetitions (#14, #15,). In the 14th competition he timed out before he could attempt the "Rope Climb" in the First Stage. In the 15th competition, he made it to the third stage and ultimately failed on the "Curtain Cling" obstacle. Unlike his brother, he did not compete in the 16th competition.
United States
