California Grand Invitational Kicking off Nastia Liukin Cup Series This Weekend

This weekend brings the beginning of the 2020 Nastia Liukin Cup Series with the first of 18 invitationals of the series, the California Grand Invitational in Anaheim, Calif., Jan. 3-5. Performances at the 18 invitational meets in the series determine the gymnasts who will compete in the 2020 Nastia Liukin Cup at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee on March 6, 2020. This will be the 11th annual edition of the competition, which was started in 2010 by 2008 Olympic all-around gold-medalist Nastia Liukin.

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 Nastia Liukin Cup is held the night before the 2020 American Cup, slated for March 7 at Fiserv Forum.

The 36 participants in the Nastia Liukin Cup are selected through the Nastia Liukin Cup Series, which features 18 of the country’s top gymnastics invitationals held throughout the United States. The final junior and senior Nastia Liukin Cup qualifiers will be determined at the Elevate the Stage invitational in Toledo, Ohio, Feb. 21-23. 

The upcoming invitationals participating in the 2020 Nastia Liukin Cup Series are listed below.

• California Grand Invitational, Anaheim, Calif., Jan. 3-5
• Alamo Classic, San Antonio, Texas, Jan. 10-12
• Brestyan's Invitational, Malden Mass., Jan.17-20
• Hill's Maryland Classic, Landover, Md., Jan. 17-20
• Tampa Bay Turners Invitational, Bradenton, Fla., Jan. 17-20
• Kim Zmeskal's Texas Prime Meet, Irving, Texas, Jan. 17-20
• Atlanta Centennial Classic, Atlanta, Ga., Jan. 24-26
• Legacy Elite Classic, St Charles, Ill., Jan. 31-Feb. 2
• WOGA Classic, Frisco, Texas, Jan. 31-Feb. 2
• Circle of Stars, Indianapolis, Ind., Jan. 31-Feb. 2
• Classic Spectacular, Minneapolis, Minn., Jan. 31-Feb. 2
• Classic Rock Invitational, Phoenix, Ariz., Feb. 7-9
• IGI Chicago Style, Chicago, Illinois, Feb. 7-9
• Dragon Invitational, Blue Springs, Mo., Feb. 7-9
• Biles International Invitational, Houston, Texas, Feb. 14-16
• Denver Winterfest Classic, Denver, Colo., Feb. 14-16
• Magical Classic, Orlando, Fla., Feb. 14-16
• Elevate the Stage, Toledo, Ohio, Feb. 21-23

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 Nastia Liukin Cup; and the opportunity to meet Liukin and participate in a group photo.

All-session tickets for the American Cup and Nastia Liukin Cup are on sale now. For more information on the Nastia Liukin Cup, please go to nastialiukincup.com.

The Nastia Liukin Cup made its debut in 2010. Past sites include 2018, Hoffman Estates, Ill.; 2016 and 2017, Newark, N.J.; 2015, Arlington, Texas; 2014 and 2019, Greensboro, N.C.; 2013 and 2010, Worcester, Mass.; 2012, New York City; and 2011, Jacksonville, Fla.

Background information

• Nastia Liukin. At the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, Liukin’s total of five medals tied the U.S. gymnastics record for most medals in one Olympic Games. Liukin’s Olympic medals are: gold – all-around; silver – team, balance beam and uneven bars; and bronze – floor exercise. Liukin was the third of five U.S. women to win the Olympic all-around crown. She also won nine World medals in her career. Liukin has graced many magazine covers and appeared on various shows, including “Gossip Girl,” “Make It or Break It,” and the feature film, “Stick It.” Liukin was a contestant in the 2015 spring edition of “Dancing with the Stars” and was the grand marshal for the 2015 Indianapolis 500. She currently serves as a gymnastics analyst for NBC Sports and is a founder of Grander, a global community for the next generation of female athletes that provides access to the people who inspire, resources to help achieve dreams, and communities of like-minded people with similar ambitions. Liukin was coached by her father, Valeri, who has four Olympic medals from 1988 including two gold.
• USA Gymnastics. Based in Indianapolis, USA Gymnastics is the national governing body for gymnastics in the United States. The organization is committed to creating a culture that encourages and supports its athletes and focuses on its highest priority, the safety and well-being of the athletes. USA Gymnastics has taken specific, concrete steps to strengthen its athlete safety policies and procedures, including adopting the updated USA Gymnastics Safe Sport Policy. Former gymnast and business executive Li Li Leung is the new president and chief executive officer of USA Gymnastics. The organization’s disciplines include men’s and women’s artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, trampoline and tumbling, acrobatic gymnastics and gymnastics for all (formerly known as group gymnastics). For more complete information, visit www.usagym.org