Horton has one more shot at gold

By Jenni Carlson

Published: August 19, 2008

Jonathan Horton has one more shot at winning some Olympic hardware.

Regardless of what happens today in the high bar finals, though, the former Oklahoma gymnast already considers these Olympics a smashing success. That's because winning a medal in the team competition was his primary goal.

Mission accomplished.

"The moment we realized we had won the bronze, it hit me that I was experiencing the most exciting moment of my life,” Horton said in an e-mail from Beijing. "To accomplish what we did when nobody believed in us was a miracle.”

Horton led the Hamm-less Americans to an unexpected medal, fist pumping and high fiving all the way.

He looked noticeably worn out during the all-around finals a few days later, but now, a week removed from the team finals, Horton has had a chance to recover.

He is rested and ready for the high bar.

The competition begins around 6:30 a.m. Oklahoma time, then will be broadcast tonight during NBC's coverage, which starts at 7 p.m.

"I feel great,” Horton said. "High bar has been going really well for me, and I'm excited to get out there and do one more routine for the world.”

High bar has long been Horton's signature event, but after changing his routine this year, he has struggled with consistency.

No more.

Since the Olympic trials, Horton hasn't missed a high bar routine in competition. He's so confident that he's adding a fourth release move in his routine to increase his start value.

That could make Horton's already successful Olympics even more triumphant.

"I think I will have a legitimate shot at winning,” he said.

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