Article about how David Durante took Sasha Artemev under his wing:
David Durante took it upon himself to make sure Artemev became more professional. Durante, also a reserve, realized that both Paul and Morgan Hamm might not make it to the Olympics due to nagging injuries. He knew Raj Bhavsar would probably get the first call; and, with Artemev's talent on pommel horse, Artemev, 22, could be next.
The team couldn't afford a disaffected Artemev to have wasted 6 weeks. Durante, 28, is the team's anointed leader after winning the 2007 all-around national title. Most elite gymnasts don't participate in college gymnastics. Durante is a Stanford grad.
Here, as reserves, he and Artemev had to train apart from the rest of the team.
"I know what it takes to operate as a team," Durante said. "Sasha doesn't even usually have a training partner. He usually trains by himself. I tried to impart to him that he had to put the team ahead of himself."