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The USA men's gymnastics team's Olympic medal route is simple yet hard

RIO DE JANEIRO – The plan is maddeningly simple even if doing it can sometimes be monumentally difficult.

Just hit routines. That’s all the American men feel they have to do to get on the podium here at the Rio Olympics. They advanced to the final in a less-than-perfect round that still put them second in qualifying.

With the U.S. men seeking their first Olympic team medal since 2008 on Monday, the path to the podium is basic in principle if challenging in execution.

“If we hit 100% - which I fully believe we are capable of – I think we have enough to be in that top three,” said veteran Chris Brooks, team captain after making his first Olympics at 29.