At 16, he's one of seven members of the U.S. Junior National Gymnastics team preparing to compete in all events, including his favorites - the high bar and floor exercise.

He earned a spot on the team a couple months ago in Knoxville, Tenn., and will compete about 10 times in the next year with the group.

``Every day you have victories. You achieve and you're constantly setting goals for yourself,'' he said, sitting in a room in Hayden's Gymnastics, his training site. The gym was a finalist for the Olympic men's gymnastics training location.

Andy will spend about 22 hours a week at Hayden's Gymnastics this summer working out. He's at the gym six days a week during the school year.

Interest in gymnastics runs in the Thornton family.

Andy's older brother, Jay, narrowly missed a spot on the U.S. Olympic team. His twin, Brad, quit gymnastics three years ago and began playing basketball, and his sisters, Ginny and Charlotte, have learned the sport.

Andy says that Olympic glory comes only to those who have perfected their sport. For insight, he has talked with former gold medalists about how they were consistently perfect.

Perfection is often tough, especially on Andy's weak events, the pommel horse and the rings. He has dealt with many injuries, including tendinitis in his elbows, a broken thumb and finger and several sprained ankles.

``I consider this my No. 1 priority. It's worth the sacrifice,'' he said. ``I can't see anything that would ever get me to stop gymnastics before I really want to.''