'We're still in medal hunt', say injury-hit US gymnasts

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BEIJING (AFP) - The US men's gymnastics team has urged fans not to write off its Beijing Olympic prospects after injury robbed the squad of its two best performers.

The shock withdrawal of Morgan Hamm on Thursday means the Americans face the daunting task of battling the world champion Chinese on their home turf without Hamm or his brother Paul, the defending Olympic individual champion.

Any medal, let alone gold, would now be regarded as a long shot for the Americans who finished fourth the last time it competed internationally without either of the Hamm twins at last year's world championships in Stuttgart.

US gymnast Jonathan Horton described Morgan Hamm as "an irreplaceable athlete" but insisted the squad's depth of talent meant they were still in with a chance.

"We are one family and the expectations stay the same," he said.

"We still feel that we are medal contenders and we're going to go out there and do our thing on the floor and have a great competition."

Morgan Hamm, whose ankle injury means he will watch the Olympics from the stands with his twin brother, said American heart would help boost the injury-ravaged team.

"These guys can go out there and get a medal, compete with anybody else in the world," he said. "I really believe they're going to show the heart of America, here in Beijing."