Olympic gymnast Paul Hamm has surgery; hopes to compete in August

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Waukesha gymnast Paul Hamm had successful surgery Tuesday to fix a broken bone in his right hand.

He’ll meet with surgeon Lawrence Lubbers again tomorrow in Columbus, Ohio, and will then start a rehab program.

Hamm, 25, says he’s optimistic about defending his Olympic all-around gold medal in Beijing in August.

He’ll miss the Olympic trials next month. But he hopes to prove his worth in July, at a U.S. training camp in Colorado Springs.

If he’s healthy, Hamm will be considered a lock to defend his Olympic crown.

His coach, Miles Avery, says Hamm will be back to 100 percent by Aug. 9, when the gymnastics competition opens in China.

He was injured in last week’s national meet in Houston.

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