Nov. 9, 2005

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Justin Spring of the Illinois men's gymnastics team leaves for Melbourne, Australia on Sunday, Nov. 13, where he will begin training for the 2005 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships which run Nov. 22-27. Spring was named to the six-man U.S. World Championship team on Oct. 17 after a two-day selection competition at the U.S. Olympic Training Facility in Colorado Springs, Colo. The 38th annual Championships will be held at the Rod Laver Arena at Melbourne Park. The expected field features 346 athletes from 60 countries with 131 competing in the men's division.

The format contains individual event championships (all-around and apparatus). Qualification rounds help determine advancement to the all-around and apparatus finals. The top-24 compete in the all-around on Nov. 24-25. For individual events, the top eight on each apparatus from the qualification rounds advance to the finals (Nov. 26-27). Spring will be competing on three events: floor exercise, parallel bars and horizontal bar. The men's floor exercise apparatus final is on Nov. 26 and the parallel bars and high bar finals are on Nov. 27 both at 2 p.m. (times local to Melbourne). Melbourne is 17 hours ahead of central standard time.

"This is the culmination of Justin's gymnastics accomplishments," Head Illinois gymnastics coach Yoshi Hayasaki said. "The timing is perfect, he is beginning his final year of college representing Illinois as a member of the U.S. World Championship team. This is his opportunity to establish himself as one of the best gymnasts in the world. He is much more confident in himself and he is training at the highest level of his life. I know he is going to do well."

Spring placed first at both the 2005 Visa U.S. Championships and Winter Cup and tied for second at the 2005 American Cup on horizontal bar. The Burke, Va., native is the 2005 NCAA parallel bars champion, the 2004 NCAA horizontal bar champion and is a seven-time NCAA All-American.

"It is different because this is an individual competition," Spring said of the World Championships. "I've always had individual goals, but once I came to college my goals became more team oriented. It's the realization that before college this is what I worked for and now it's finally here. I've trained for 18 years of my life for this and to have it all finally happen my senior year at the University of Illinois makes it more special."

Spring also credits his teammates for playing an important role in his training.

"The fact that I've been training with the guys here has helped me out tremendously. The team has been there to back me up. To have my personal goals come together while I'm still with the team has been amazing. I'm glad that it happened at this time and, on another note, this is going to end just before the season starts and I'm going to be right on top of my game. Hopefully, we'll win the Windy City Invite right off the bat like we did last year."

Illinois finished third in the NCAA last season and begins the 2005-06 campaign ranked No. 2 in the coaches' preseason poll. Spring also realizes his accomplishments solidify Illinois as a top-flight gymnastics program.

"Ohio State and Oklahoma have had guys on the national team and now Illinois does. Now we're recognized on the national scene with an elite team member coming from this university. I think it speaks highly of the program, facilities, coaching staff and everyone involved. It says a lot about what we're all about here and that athletes can accomplish a lot if they come here. The situation speaks for itself - the program attracts world class athletes."

Detailed information on participating countries, the draw, etc., is available at both the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG), www.fig-gymnastics.com/, and organizing committee website, www.gymnastics.org/au/2005worlds/. The event will not be televised, however, World Championship Sports Network will carry a live Web cast of the final rounds of the World Championships for $9.95. For more information, check usa-gymnastics.org.