SI: Paul Hamm can keep his Olympic gold medal.

[arwalden]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2004/more/10/21/hamm.medal.ap/index.html

Paul Hamm can keep his Olympic gold medal.

Sports' highest court rejected a South Korean appeal Thursday, ruling that Hamm is the rightful champion in the men's all-around gymnastics competition at the Athens Games.

"The decision from CAS confirms what I've always felt in my heart, which is that I was champion that night and Olympic gold medalist," Hamm said. "I was just pleased it's all over with."

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The decision by a three-judge panel from the Court of Arbitration for Sport ends a saga that began more than two months ago when South Korea's Yang Tae-young claimed a scoring error cost him the title. Yang finished with the bronze medal.

Yang asked the court to order international gymnastics officials to change the results, and adjust the medal rankings so he would get the gold and Hamm the silver. But the CAS panel dismissed the appeal, leaving Hamm with the gold and Yang with his bronze. Kim Dae-eun of South Korea was the silver medalist.

The verdict is final and cannot be appealed.

continued....

[joeybee12]

1. Good photo, but you know damn well he's gonna lose his hair!

Take me now, Paul! I'm fickle, I won't want you when your looks go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[arwalden]

2. I'll Bet His Partner Will Still Love Him

I know I would.

[joeybee12]

3. Did you see where he said he called his "girlfriend" this morning and told

her the news???????????

He better figure it out soon--I've already done it for him!!!!!!!

[arwalden]

4. He's so gay. And so adorable.

But considering how young he is, and how long it took Louganis to come out... don't look for it happening any time soon.

-- Allen

[joeybee12]

5. Yeah, it takes sports people longer to figure it out--they are so focused

on their sport that they think of nothing else! Especially those who grew up in a small town in Wisconsin.

Hope he starts some "introspection" soon, though!

[pagerbear]

6. Baldness is sexy too!