ATHENS, Greece -- Time was, the rest of the gymnastics world showed the United States men's teams little respect. And not without cause. From 1936 on, the U.S. men medaled only in the boycotted Los Angeles Olympics of 1984. In Sydney four years ago, the U.S. team was an afterthought in finishing fifth.

Amy Sancetta, Associated Press Blaine Wilson was fortunate to continue with nothing more than a pulsating headache after he fell to the mat during his high bar routine on Saturday. Click photo for larger image.

The landscape has altered, though, team officials and members say. Within the U.S. program and in the way its international counterparts view it.

"This team has more confidence than the one in Sydney, and it really shows out there on the floor," gymnast Morgan Hamm said at a news conference. "The other countries notice that, and they really admire that. For the first time this year, they were watching us in practice. That was pretty cool."

"We've stepped it up and gotten to the point where we're doing gymnastics just as well as all the other countries in the world," twin brother Paul Hamm said. "We've gained the respect from countries like Russia, who, in the past, have beaten us. Now, we've taken over."

Taken over?

Not yet, but U.S. team members might be doing backflips to celebrate by the day's end.

The U.S. is one of four nations viewed as having a chance at gold in the men's team gymnastics final, which starts at 1:30 p.m. A realistic chance, at that.

China, winner of the 2003 World Championships and the Olympic gold four years ago, has four members back from its team in Sydney. Japan is a contender, too.

But the U.S. has reasons beyond buoyed confidence to believe it can beat both. The Americans have finished second at each of the past two World Championships. The Hamm brothers and Blaine Wilson, the team's oldest member at age 30, have previous Olympic experience. Wilson is in his third Games.

"We have tremendous respect for China," U.S. coach Kevin Mazeika said, "but this is an incredible U.S. men's gymnastics team."

The team's other three members are Jason Gatson, Brett McClure and Guard Young, all Olympic rookies.

Wilson's story stands out.

A native of Columbus, Ohio, he has been the U.S.'s most decorated gymnast for the better part of a decade, including two Olympic appearances and five consecutive national championships in 1996-2000. But his chance at getting his long-coveted Olympic medal seemed to end when his left biceps muscle was torn away from the bone on an ugly fall from the still rings Feb. 28. He had surgery March 2 and was told by doctors it would take six to seven months to fully heal.

That should have put him out until September or October, but he rushed to be ready for the U.S. Olympic trials two months ago. He did not score well there and had to wait another several weeks before convincing USA Gymnastics at a tryout that he merited being added to the team.

"I'm probably in the best shape I've ever been," Wilson said. "I've been through a lot this year, but I wouldn't change anything. They've made me the person and gymnast I am today."

He had another accident during the opening of qualifying on Saturday -- he fell off the high bar, and his head hit the mat hard -- but was fortunate to continue with nothing more than a pulsating headache. Shortly after that, he scored an impressive 9.7 on the floor exercise.

The U.S. finished second in the qualifying, behind Japan and ahead of Romania. That will mean nothing in terms of positioning tonight, other than yet another boost of confidence.

That confidence could be bordering on cockiness. When Paul Hamm was asked by a Chinese reporter if the U.S. could beat his country, Hamm shot back with sarcasm.

"Somehow, I found a way to beat the Chinese at the 2003 World Championships," he said, referring to his all-around individual title. "I think we have to realize that they are beatable."