The last installment of the 2013-14 FIG World Cup Series will focus the gaze of the gymnastics world on the world’s most innovative city: Medellín, Colombia.

 

The Medellín World Challenge Cup falls smack in the middle of two major competitions, the World Championships in Nanning, China, which concluded on October 12th, and the kickoff of the 2014-15 World Cup Series at the 32nd ENBW DTB Cup in Stuttgart, Germany on November 29th.

 

It’s unfortunate timing as the event will be slightly less well-attended by some of the popular fan favorites. Nevertheless, top male and female gymnasts from 13 countries will battle it out one final time with the overall winners of the Individual Apparatus World Cup and World Challenge Cup series crowned at the end of the weekend.

 

Here are a few of the big names to look out for during this weekend’s competition.

 

Ladies first…

 

We flip-a for Ana Filipa

The big-ticket pony for the women’s competition will most likely be Ana Filipa Martins of Portugal. In addition to her 16th-place finish in the all-around at Worlds last month, she also holds 1st-, 2nd-, and 3rd-place FIG World Rankings on bars, floor and beam, respectively. Impressed yet? She also secured Portugal’s first-ever gold medal in women’s artistic gymnastics on floor at the 2014 Anadia World Cup in June.

 

Courtesy of Marcos Aurelio 

Age ain’t nothing but a number

At 31-years-old, Bibiana Velez of Colombia defies the laws of nature and proves gymnastics isn’t just for kids and teens. She outperformed gymnasts half her age to earn a gold medal on bars at the 2014 South American Games in March.

 

Big vault. Small package.

Standing just 4-feet, 8-inches tall, Yamilet Peña of the Dominican Republic stands out for more than just her diminutive height. The 2012 Olympian is one of only four gymnasts known for competing the notorious Produnova (front handspring, double-front) on vault. Despite suffering a string of injuries since 2013, expect this bite-sized competitor to pack a powerful punch.

How about the fellas?
 

Who rules the high bar? Jossimar

With a successful year of competition, Jossimar Calvo of Colombia has become a well-known international gymnast. After a 1st-place finish on high bar as well as winning gold in the all-around at the 2014 Pan American Championships, he has definitely positioned himself as a contender. Even with a fall on one of his best events, he finished 10th in the all-around at World’s last month.

 

Go, go, Diego!

As one-half of the brother-sister, dynamic duo out of Brazil, Diego Hypólito is a veteran of the world stage. He dominates on floor and has multiple event titles at major competitions including this year’s Pan Ams. As the first Brazilian male to not only place, but win a gold medal at a World Championships, he has become an icon for the development of men’s gymnastics programs in Brazil.

Talk about legendary

At 35-years-old and with three Olympic Games under his belt, hometown hero and Medellín-native Jorge Giraldo will most definitely be this weekend’s headliner. No, seriously. Medellin World Cup competitors will be training at Jorge Hugo Giraldo Gymnastics Coliseum.

 

 

Colombia took full advantage of its opportunity to host the finale of this year’s World Challenge Cup and had the largest turn out with a total of 10 competitors (4 WAG and 6 MAG). According to the preliminary competitors’ list, the nations competing include: Brazil, Colombia, Croatia, Dominican Republic, Finland, Japan, Latvia, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Portugal, Slovenia, and Venezuela.

 

The competition schedule for this weekend is as follows:

 • Friday, November 7: Qualifications

 

• Saturday, November 8: Final I

o Women’s VT, UB

o Men’s FX, PH, SR

 

• Sunday, November 9: Final II

o Women’s VT, UB

o Men’s FX, PH, SR