BEIJING — The mood went from merry to morose in the switch from talking to the U.S. women's gymnastics team to the American men on Thursday.

The women are expected to contend with China for the team gold, and they met with reporters in an upbeat session in which the gymnasts couldn't stop smiling. Then the men came in, and couldn't have looked much more downcast.

For good reason: Morgan Hamm, the only U.S. gymnast on either the men's or women's team with previous Olympic experience, announced he had withdrawn from the team because of a chronic ankle injury. That came just a little over a week after his twin brother, Paul, gave up his spot on the squad because he had not sufficiently recovered from a broken hand suffered in May.

It was especially surreal Thursday considering that just the day before, Morgan Hamm said he hoped Paul would come to China to cheer him on in competition. Indeed, Paul is coming ... but to cheer WITH Morgan, not for him.

"It's very tough," Morgan said. "It's the end of my career, and not the way I planned it."

Morgan tore a muscle in his chest last October, but had come back from that. The problem with his ankle, though, lingered. An anti-inflammatory shot he received for it in May, in fact, had caused an issue because he and his doctors did not get the required therapeutic-use exemption for it. He received a warning from the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, but was still approved to compete in the Olympics.

However, in practices here, he simply couldn't perform well enough to remain with the team.

"It's not an acute injury that happened here," Morgan said. "It's something that is to the point where my ankle is shutting down and not doing what I tell it to do. At that point, I can't do my gymnastics safely."

And so ends the era of the Hamm twins, who were hoping to compete in their third Olympics together. They made their first Olympic appearance in the 2000 Sydney Games when they were 17.

Then Paul Hamm won the all-around gold medal at the 2004 Olympics, and both brothers were part of the U.S. team's silver-medal performance. After that, he took some time off from the sport. Their comebacks appeared to be going well heading into the Visa Championships in May, which is where Paul's injury occurred.

But even late into July, it still appeared they would be pillars for this U.S. team. Both now will be spectators.

The other five members of the team came to meet with reporters as a show of respect, they said, for Morgan Hamm. As they sat stony-faced on the dais, the obvious question was how they will perk up for the team competition, which starts Saturday and concludes Tuesday.

"You can see there is a bit of a grieving process; it shows how close this team is," coach Kevin Mazeika said. "These young athletes will be ready to go. At the moment, we're sitting empathetically with Morgan."

Raj Bhavsar took Paul Hamm's spot on the team. USA Gymnastics had not yet announced which alternate athlete – Alexander Artemev or David Durante - will be picked to replace Morgan Hamm.

"As for the expectations for the team, I don't think it changes," said Jonathan Horton, a former standout at Oklahoma who finished his college career this past spring. "I think we're deep, even with the replacement athletes."

Meanwhile, the women's team is also dealing with an ankle injury, to 2005 all-around world champion Chellsie Memmel. But unless there's another surprise announcement coming from USA Gymnastics, it appears she is still going to take part in the team competition. But possibly only in the uneven bars, where the United States really needs her.

"My ankle is feeling pretty good; we have some of the best trainers available," Memmel said Thursday. "And I'm ready to do bars for the team."

Ivana Hong, who regularly trains in Blue Springs, Mo., is one of three alternates for the U.S. women. The alternates are currently working out in Japan and could get to China quickly if they are needed. The women's team competition is Sunday and Wednesday, Beijing time. The team final will be televised in the United State live on Tuesday night.

The U.S. women edged China for the team gold at last year's world championships, where Shawn Johnson won the all-around competition. The Iowa native said she is ready to go for the Olympics.

"I've been working 13 years for this," said Johnson, who is only 16. "I've been in gymnastics my whole life. I couldn't put in any more preparation.

"The whole U.S. is really behind all of us, and it's great to know everyone at home is cheering for us. But as for pressure, it comes more from myself. We're feeling great as a team; we've been working really close together. During all the practices we cheer each other on and make sure we get through all the hard times."