Working His Way Back

Subscribe or Renew now to receive our Nationals Preview Issue (Jul/Aug)!

One of the most magical moments at the 2008 Olympic Games was the U.S. men’s surprise bronze-medal performance. And it was Sasha Artemev who sealed that unlikely medal-win with his clutch pommel horse performance. It's a feat made even more amazing because, less than a week before that night, Artemev hadn’t even been on the team—left only as alternate, due mostly to his inconsistency on horse.

Artemev’s fairy tale Olympic journey has helped him stay strong this season—he’s now committed to competing through 2012—despite a series of surgeries and injuries that would make anyone question their spot in the sport.

Just as he’d recovered from planned shoulder surgery (postponed last year to train for Beijing), Artemev suffered another setback, this time in form of a back fracture that is slowly starting to heal.

“I got back to really doing all my skills in late April,” Artemev recalls. “Then I hurt my back [about a month later]. I was doing too much I think, and this is what happened.

“I’ve been wearing a brace and just getting massage work, lots of massage,” Artemev adds of the treatment for his latest injury. “Other than that, it’s just staying careful. I haven’t tumbled or vaulted much yet.”

This latest injury has put Artemev’s entire season in question. Though he hopes to compete at least a few events at next month’s U.S. Championships, Artemev’s goals have shifted away from Worlds and moved solely to regaining his strength.

“I’ve been doing pommel horse, p-bars, high bars and rings, but we’ll see when I get there,” Artemev relates of his plan for Dallas. “I’m not going to push it. We’re just going to take it slow this year. I have a lot of new skills I’m working on, but I could always do my older routines at Championships and save those for next year.

“If I compete, I’m definitely going to try and shoot for Worlds,” Artemev says, adding quickly, “but Worlds right now is not the top on my mind. I’m really just interested in learning new skills and getting my difficulty up to compete with the best guys in the world.”

Right now, Artemev’s focus is firmly on the future and he’s already looking ahead to next year’s team Worlds, and beyond.

“For me, this year is mainly about getting healthy again,” he says of his modest 2009 goals. “I just want to get 100 percent and stay healthy for these next three years, which are very, very important to me. I just want to be back—that’s the important thing, not competing at Worlds or USAs.”

And while his gymnastics life has been a struggle this season, his personal life is going strong. Though he laughs and says he’s, “not married yet, but soon,” Artemev and longtime girlfriend Briana Springer did recently move into a new house.

“We’ll do it sometime soon,” Artemev jokes of tying the knot. “I guess it’s the thing to do now; everyone is doing it right? Honestly, it’s like we’re already married so no rush, you know?”

With three years to go to London, Artemev isn’t in a rush in the gym, or out of it.

Photo by Grace Chiu for Inside Gymnastics

Subscribe or Renew now to receive our Nationals Preview Issue (Jul/Aug)! This edition also features the debut of our Power 25, the most influential members of the gymnastics community. Plus, receive a free poster of Olympic Champion Nastia Liukin when you order a 3-year subscription to Inside Gymnastics magazine! Subscribe or Renew now so that you don't miss a single issue! Back issues are also available in our shopping cart.

Speak Out!    Comment on this article