June 19, 2008

BERKELEY - Graduated senior Tim McNeill of the California men's gymnastics team will try for a chance to represent the United States in at the Olympics on June 19 and 21 at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Philadelphia at the Wachovia Center. McNeill will compete against fellow members of the U.S. Senior Team for one of eight spots on the Olympic team. Ten gymnasts qualified for the senior team based on their points earned at U.S. Championships on May 25, and four others - including McNeill - were selected by the Men's Program Committee. In addition to live coverage Saturday on NBC, Thursday's competition is being simulcast online at http://www.nbcolympics.com.

McNeill has spent the past week preparing for the competition, enjoying Philadelphia and attending media conferences. The Falls Church, Va. native also noted that mutual camaraderie has developed among the members of the team, despite the fact that they will be competing against each other on June 19.

"I've been trying to get the most out of every practice. It hasn't been lots of repitions but I've been working on refinement," McNeill said. "A bunch of the guys on the team saw a movie and we've all been walking to the market place around the corner to eat."

McNeill and the rest of the team will participate in day one of the all-around finals Thurs., June 19 at 7 p.m. ET and Sat., June 21 at 3 p.m. ET. Saturday's finals are slated to be broadcast on NBC at 4:30 p.m. ET. All gymnasts will compete both days with hopes of being placed on the Olympic Squad by the selection committee. The committee will use the U.S. Championships for 40 percent of its decision and the Olympic Trials count for the remaining 60 percent of the vote.

After winning his third NCAA individual title on pommel horse and second on parallel bars this past April, McNeill is the most decorated gymnast in California history with five titles to his name. He earned All-America honors on both events and finished fifth in the all around competition at the NCAA Championships. At U.S. Championships, he took silver on pommel horse and finished 10th in the all-around.

For more information and live statistics, visit www.usa-gymnastics.org