GYMNASTICS: Born without a right pectoral muscle, Clay Stephens said he does not consider himself disadvantaged in a sport that can physically punish the hardiest of gymnasts.

"I don't look at it as an excuse or anything," said Stephens after podium training at Nanjing Olympic Sports Centre Gymnasium on Thursday. "I was told I would probably never be able to do sports that involved the upper body, like gymnastics."

Stephens said he never knew what he was missing when he began gymnastics as a child.

"I was pretty young and didn't have much idea about my pec(toral muscle)," Stephens said. "I progressed and excelled, and kept going. I don't know what it would be like with that muscle, so my life is no different."

Even with the benefit of a right pectoral muscle, Stephens said he would probably not thrive on one of the six apparatuses.

"Rings is a major upper-body apparatus," he said. "I don't see my body type being the best (for a) rings worker anyway. I do the cleanest and highest-value skills I can on rings, while trying to excel on the apparatuses that I can do a lot better, like floor exercise and vault."

Stephens, who aspires to be a doctor, said his training regimen assures that he stays fit. His routine includes plenty of rest, good nutrition and a home-based benefit to his overall health.

"I have two physiotherapists as parents, so they keep my body pretty well-maintained," Stephens said.

NYOGOC jc/dk