Release via USA Gymnastics

INDIANAPOLIS, Jan. 7, 2016 – The seventh annual Nastia Liukin Cup Series kicks off this weekend with three invitationals, the Atlanta Crown Invitational, Twistars Let Us Take You to Rio Invitational and Legacy Elite Winter Classic.  The invitational meets in the Series determine the gymnasts who will compete in the Nastia Liukin Cup at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., on March 4, 2016.

Newark’s Prudential Center is hosting both the Nastia Liukin Cup and, on the following day, the 2016 AT&T American Cup, an International Gymnastics Federation World Cup event that features some of the world’s biggest names in gymnastics.

The 36 participants in the Nastia Liukin Cup are selected through the Nastia Liukin Cup Series, which features 25 of the country's top gymnastics invitationals held throughout the United States. A total of 18 junior and 18 senior gymnasts will advance to the Nastia Liukin Cup. Senior athletes must be 16 years of age or older, and junior athletes must be 15 or younger. The last Nastia Liukin Cup qualifiers will be determined at five invitationals held just three weeks before the Nastia Liukin Cup. The invitationals participating in the Cup Series are listed below with the number of qualifiers in parentheses.


•       Atlanta Crown Invitational, Atlanta, Ga., Jan. 8-10 (1 Jr., 1 Sr.)

•       Twistars Let Us Take You to Rio Invitational, Dimondale, Mich., Jan 8-10 (1 Jr.)

•       Legacy Elite Winter Classic, Chicago, Ill., Jan 8-10 (1 Sr.)

•       Brestyan’s Invitational, Medford, Mass., Jan. 15-17 (1 Jr.)

•       CGA Coaches’ Spectacular, Cincinnati, Ohio, Jan. 15-17 (1 Sr.)

•       Lady Luck Invitational, Las Vegas, Nev., Jan. 15-17 (1 Jr., 1 Sr.)

•       Star Struck Invitational, Atlantic City, N.J., Jan. 15-17 (1 Sr.)

•       Tampa Bay Turners Invitational, Bradenton, Fla., Jan. 15-17 (1 Jr.)

•       Texas Prime, Irving, Texas, Jan. 15-17 (1 Jr., 1 Sr.)

•       Alamo Classic, San Antonio, Texas, Jan. 22-24 (1 Jr.)

•       Sand Dollar Invitational, Orlando, Fla., Jan. 22-24 (1 Jr., 1 Sr.)

•       Chow’s Challenge, Galveston, Texas, Jan. 29-31 (1 Jr.)

•       Fiesta Bowl, Chandler, Ariz., Jan. 29-31 (1 Sr.)

•       Wisconsin Dells Vacation Classic, Wisconsin Dells, Wis., Jan. 29-31 (1 Sr.)

•       Circle of Stars, Indianapolis, Ind., Jan. 29-31 (1 Jr., 1 Sr.)

•       Classic Rock Invitational, Phoenix, Ariz., Feb. 5-7 (1 Jr., 1 Sr.)

•       Buckeye Classic, Columbus, Ohio, Feb. 5-7 (1 Jr., 1 Sr.)

•       Charity Choice Invitational, Tacoma, Wash., Feb. 5-7 (1 Sr.)

•       Pikes Peak Cup, Colorado Springs, Colo., Feb. 5-7 (1 Jr., 1 Sr.)

•       Magical Classic, Orlando, Fla., Feb. 12-13 (1 Jr.)

•       Chicago Style, Chicago, Ill., Feb. 12-14 (1 Jr., 1 Sr.)

•       Excalibur Cup, Virginia Beach, Va., Feb. 12-14 (1 Jr.)

•       Greensboro Gymnastics Invitational, Greensboro, N.C., Feb. 12-14 (1 Sr.)

•       Presidential Classic, Orlando, Fla., Feb. 12-15 (1 Jr., 1 Sr.)

•       WOGA Classic, Frisco, Texas, Feb. 12-14 (1 Jr., 1 Sr.)


Gymnasts who compete in the Nastia Liukin Cup will receive a Nastia Liukin-designed leotard and a warm-up from GK Elite; two tickets to the AT&T American Cup and recognition during the event; and the opportunity to meet Liukin and participate in a team photo.

Tickets for the Nastia Liukin Cup are currently available through gymnastics clubs participating in the AT&T American Cup discount ticket program, and will go on sale to the general public in the near future. For more information on the event, please go nastialiukincup.com.

A portion of the proceeds from the Nastia Liukin Cup benefits the Nastia Liukin Fund, a charitable fund in partnership with the National Gymnastics Foundation (www.usagym.org/foundation).

Past sites for the Nastia Liukin Cup are: 2015, Arlington, Texas; 2014, Greensboro, N.C.; 2013 and 2010, Worcester, Mass.; 2012, New York City; and 2011, Jacksonville, Fla.


Related:
2016 Atlanta Crown Invitational Roster