Age, experience big factors for Wilson in gymnastics event

Victoria Sun

Friday, Feb. 9, 2001 | 11 a.m.

Of the 100 or so male gymnasts who will be competing in the 2001 Winter Cup Challenge, five-time national champion Blaine Wilson figures he has a definite advantage over the entire field.

In age, that is.

Wilson, 26, headlines the event that started this morning at the Pepsi AllSport Arena (inside the former All-American SportPark) and concludes Saturday night.

"Not one person in this meet (was) alive when I started gymnastics," Wilson mused. "The oldest guy will be Sean Townsend and he is 22.

"Looking at the field, I'm an old man compared to some of these guys."

An old man everyone wants to beat.

Wilson is currently the top U.S. male gymnast and rated No. 6 in the world. The two-time Olympian finished sixth in the all-around competition at the 2000 Olympics, the highest U.S. finish ever in a non-boycotted Olympics.

Among those gunning for Wilson are national team members Townsend, Brett McClure and Mike Dutka. Jason Gatson, a member of the 1997 World Championships team, and last year's junior national champion, Todd Thornton of Houston, are also entered.

"I hear from a lot of other guys (that) we're coming to beat you and I think that's good," Wilson said. "It's going to push the U.S. to a different level.

"I like being on top, I really think I have a lot of knowledge to give to the younger guys coming up. You're going to see the future of men's gymnastics here."

Wilson didn't compete in this event last year because he was recovering from right shoulder surgery. The Winter Cup Challenge will be the Columbus, Ohio, resident's first competition since the Olympics.

This will also be the first time the gymnasts will compete under the new "code of points." The code of points is the official set of routines each gymnast must perform as designated by the International Gymnastics Federation.

"The routines that we did last year, you couldn't compete those this year because they wouldn't have as much value," Wilson said.

"I've had to change every single event. It took December, January and the beginning part of February to get these skills.

"I'm just going in to try and hit as many routines as I can."

Wilson said he enjoys the challenge of learning the new code.

"This is the most fun part of gymnastics," he said. "This is when you get to go home, learn new skills -- harder stuff than you've ever tried. It just pushes your mind and body to the limit."

While Wilson will be perfoming mainly for himself, other gymnasts will be trying to earn a spot on the U.S. National Team. Three spots will be determined at the Winter Cup Challenge.