RIO 2016

Alex Naddour leads on pommel horse at Olympic Gym Trials

Five-man U.S. team will be named Saturday

Jeff Metcalfe
azcentral sports

Alex Naddour posted the highest score on pommel horse Thursday at the U.S. Olympic Men's Gymnastics Trials, solidifying his chances of making the five-man team for the Rio Olympics.

Naddour of Queen Creek scored 15.650 on pommel horse, nearly equaling his personal record 15.750 achieved June 5 at the P&G; Championships. Olympic qualifying scores are cumulative from the trials in St. Louis and P&G; Championships.

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The 25-year-old also scored 15.225 on still rings (second overall), 15.125 on vaulting (fifth), 14.925 on floor exercise (ninth) and 14.600 on parallel bars (10th). He did not compete on high bar, one of his weak events.

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The 18-man men's trials conclude Saturday at Chaifetz Arena. Naddour was an alternate for the 2012 London Olympics but since has made the U.S. for the 2013-15 World Championships. He is a four-time national pommel horse champion and two-time World finalist on that event.

MyKayla Skinner of Gilbert will compete Friday and Sunday in the P&G; Women's Championships, which lead into the Olympic Trials, July 8-10 in San Jose.

U.S. Olympic Trials

  • Gymnastics: Men, Thursday and Saturday, St. Louis. Women, Friday and Sunday (P&G; Championships), St. Louis; July 8-10, San Jose.
  • Swimming: Sunday-July 3, Omaha, Neb.
  • Track: July 1-10, Eugene, Ore.Â