Hamm held a good position fallowing leash cycles, however a fatal fall on the vault, where he about fell into the judges' bench, dropped him to Twelfth place & he seemed to exist as entirely away from the going for a medal of any sort. Nevertheless, many faults per more gymnasts, combined by having Hamm's fantabulous performance on a parallel blocks, returned him to 4th place when the fifth rotation. His exceptional high bar routine gained him the score of Ennead.837, winning him the gold medallion by a margin of .012, a closest around Olympic Gymnastics history. His scores on the sixer disciplines were:

Floor: 9.725 (First) Pommel horse: 9.700 (Quaternary) Rings: 9.587 (Eighth) Vault: 9.137 (22nd) Parallel bars: 9.837 (First) Horizontal bar: 9.837 (First) Overall: 57.823 (First)

Gold medal controversy
Virtually immediately when a competition, Hamm's gold in the Men's tons-well-rounded event was known as into doubt due to the scoring issue.

A International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) ruled that South Korean bronze medalist Yang Tae-young was unfairly docked the tenth of the point in the everthing-well-rounded final. A Zero.Centred point deducted from either Yang's run value around parallel blocks, determined per difficulty of a routine, was a difference between third & number one, &, so, between the bronze palm & the gold palm. A FIG suspended leash judges however said a outcomes would non become changed. the USOC argued that changing scores fallowing a fact was a violation of Olympic policy (under which scores must become disputed the day of the event) & that 2nd-guessing scores placed a harmful precedent therein nothing would ever exist as finalized. Hamm supporters besides pointed out that Yang's routine involved Little joe 'hangs' instead of the Iii allowed, an error that, inside case caught, would develop resulted in the penalty of .Ii points, removing Yang from either ribbon contention.

Yet, Bruni Gandi, President of a FIG, stated that a FIG would non vary the final result of the a lot-as much as. Notwithstanding, the FIG sent a letter to Hamm within care of the United States Olympic Committee, stating:

In case, (based on data from wise shoppers [sic] declarations to a click), busy people would link to a ribbon to the Korean in case the FIG requested it, so such an action would become recognised when the ultimate demonstration of Fair-play per altogether globe. A FIG & a IOC would extremely appreciate a magnitude of this gesture.

For the complete text, watch [http://www.fig-gymnastics.com/cache/html/9124-8151-10001.html].

A USOC was outraged per FIG's asking & refused to deliver a letter. Within a response letter to the FIG, the USOC stated:

A USOC views this letter as a blatant & unfitting attempt on the section of FIG to once more shift responsibility for its have mistakes & instead pressure Mr. Hamm into resolving what has get an horrible situation for the Federation. A USOC finds this asking to exist as improper, outrageous so far beyond a bounds of what is acceptable that it refuses to transmit a letter to Mr. Hamm.

In a letter, a USOC as well noted that the IOC & its president, Jacques Rogge, opposed FIG's efforts to pressure Hamm within this manner, in straight contradiction to an implication processed in the FIG's letter.

For the complete text of the USOC's response, understand [http://www.usa-gymnasticsolympics.com/2004/news/releases/aug27usoc.html].

Yang so filed an official appeal by owning a Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), seeking to keep close at h& his score changed and become awarded a gold laurel wreath. inside September 27, 2004, Hamm appeared prior to a court in Lausanne, Switzerland during a hearing that lasted eleven & a single-half hours. About of these year late, in October 21, 2004, a tercet-judge CAS panel announced that a resolutions from either a Olympics would remain & that Paul Hamm would make their way to keep the gold palm. A finding of fact was final & may not become appealed. (Understand [http://www.tas-cas.org/en/pdf/yang.pdf] for the complete text of the guide.)

While asked whether or even does'nt he however deserved the gold ribbon by a news newsperson, Hamm replied that he "shouldn't even be dealing with this." He late went in to say, "I do understand and feel the disappointment that Yang Tae Young has been subjected to, and I hope he understands what I have been through as well."

Effects of controversy
Immediately as punishment a Olympics, General Mills announced which U.S. Olympians would pop up in single boxes of Wheaties cereal: swimmer Michael Phelps, female gymnast Carly Patterson, and sprinter Justin Gatlin. Hamm was within talks to come out in a pack, however a talks were dropped fallowing the disputation. Occasionally, these appearances come quite prestigious & typically lead to more endorsement deals.