updated 1:13 a.m. ET Sept. 1, 2004

UNCASVILLE, Conn. - Paul Hamm’s first gymnastics routine on American soil since the Athens Olympics produced a familiar result.

Hamm, the all-around Olympic gold medalist in Athens, was part of a victorious five-man dance routine called the “Men’s Group Matrix” during the Rock & Roll Gymnastics Competition Tuesday night at Mohegan Sun Arena.

The exhibition, considered a post-Olympic celebration of the sport, featured music and dance choreography.

The Matrix dance was voted by five celebrity judges as one of the top two routines of the night. The crowd of 5,467 broke the tie with a rousing ovation.

It was the second such salute of the night for Hamm, who received a standing ovation upon being introduced.

“It was a great feeling when they announced my name and the crowd cheered like that,” Hamm said. “It was just so amazing to see that.”

Hamm’s victory in Athens has been scrutinized ever since it was discovered that South Korea’s Yang Tae-young should have been awarded more points for his routine based on the degree of difficulty.

Yang finished third, 0.049 points behind Hamm, who became the first American man to win gymnastics’ biggest prize.

The International Gymnastics Federation has already said it won’t change the results, and the International Olympic Committee has refused to even consider the idea of giving Yang a gold medal.

There was no controversy on this night.

Hamm joined his brother, Morgan, fellow U.S. team member Blaine Wilson, 2000 U.S. Olympian Sean Townsend and three-time Senior National Team member Todd Thornton on the Matrix Routine.

“All this attention is still a little shocking,” Paul Hamm said. “But it’s great for so many people to come out and to help our sport grow.”

The celebrity judges also nominated 2000 U.S. Olympian Tasha Schwikert as a finalist for her floor routine performed to the song “Hey Mamma” by the Black Eyed Peas.

MORE FROM GYMNASTICS

Gymnastics Section Front

Paul Hamm allowed to keep gold medal Wilstein: Hamm goes for gold in sports' high court FIG considers gymnastics rule changes Celizic: Hamm should give up gold Belzman: Time to dump gymnastics Korean gymnast gets gold-medal welcome FIG denies putting pressure on Hamm Rogge refuses duplicate medal requests Interactive: Breaking down gymnastics NBCO: Inside the sport Gymnastics Section Front   Add Gymnastics headlines to your news reader: